Both sides have signed this (Bill Ranking)
S. 874 · 119th Congress (2025-2026)
2 members · Left 1 · Center 0 · Right 1 (Bill Ranking)
| Sponsor | Sen. Peters, Gary C. (D-MI) (Introduced 03/05/2025) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Voting Record | Lean left · DW-NOMINATE -0.25 · measured from every roll-call vote this member has cast (voteview.com) (Sponsor Ranking) |
| Support |
LLLCLRR support across the spectrum: 2 members signed on (Bill Ranking) this bill: sponsor + current cosponsors, each once |
| Committees | Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee |
| Latest Action | 05/04/2026 Held at the desk. |
| Roll Call Votes | There have been no roll call votes |
| Source | view on congress.gov → |
Introduced in Senate (03/05/2025)
Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025
This bill expands whistleblower protections for employees of federal contractors and grant recipients to include the act of refusing to obey an unlawful order and to apply these protections to members of the intelligence community and other governmental employees.
Current law protects employees of federal contractors or grant recipients from a reprisal (i.e., discharge, demotion, or discrimination) for disclosing evidence to Congress or another appropriate official of certain misconduct involving federal contracts, grants, or funds. The bill expands these protections to include an employee's refusal to obey an order that would require the employee to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant. The bill also specifies that these protections apply to employees of federal contractors or grant recipients who are current or former members of the intelligence community or employees of state, local, or tribal governments.
Further, the bill specifies that these protections may not be waived in a predispute arbitration agreement and renders any such agreement unenforceable.
The bill specifies that an executive branch official may not request a federal contractor or grant recipient to engage in a reprisal against a protected employee, and it authorizes federal agencies to propose disciplinary action against officials that do so.
119 S874 ES: Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 U.S. Senate text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. 119th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 874IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAN ACTTo ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025.2.Defense contractor employees: protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4701 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)in paragraph (1)—(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—(I)by striking An employee and all that follows through services contractor and inserting A protected individual; and(II)by striking disclosing and all that follows through evidence of; and(ii)by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and inserting the following subparagraphs:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Department of Defense contract or grant, any gross waste of Department funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Department contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Department contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)Gross mismanagement of any National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract or grant, any gross waste of Administration funds, any abuse of authority relating to an Administration contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Administration contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(iii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Clarification for scope of waiver restrictionsThe rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.;(3)by striking subsection (e) and redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively;(4)in subsection (e), as so redesignated—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(8)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, including—(i) the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense;(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense; or(C)a person performing personal services for the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, and who engages in an activity for which any reprisal is prohibited under subsection (a), including a person performing personal services pursuant such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense..3.Enhancement of non-defense contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4712 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following paragraph:(1)In generalA protected individual may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for the following:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Federal contract or grant, any gross waste of Federal funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Federal contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Federal contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Rights, forum, and remedies not waivableThe rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.;(3)in subsection (e)—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual;(4)by striking subsection (f) and redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:(3)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government, including—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003));(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)); or(C)a person performing personal services for the Federal Government pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, including a person performing personal services pursuant to such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003))..Passed the Senate April 29, 2026.Secretary
119 S874 IS: Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-03-05 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 874IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 5, 2025Mr. Peters introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsA BILLTo ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025.2.Defense contractor employees: protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4701 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)in paragraph (1)—(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—(I)by striking An employee and all that follows through services contractor and inserting A protected individual; and(II)by striking disclosing and all that follows through evidence of; and(ii)by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and inserting the following subparagraphs:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Department of Defense contract or grant, any gross waste of Department funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Department contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Department contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)Gross mismanagement of any National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract or grant, any gross waste of Administration funds, any abuse of authority relating to an Administration contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Administration contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(iii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Clarification for scope of waiver restrictions(A)The rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.(B)No provision of the predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this section.;(3)by striking subsection (e) and redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively;(4)in subsection (e), as so redesignated—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(8)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, including—(i) the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense;(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense; or(C)a person performing personal services for the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, and who engages in an activity for which any reprisal is prohibited under subsection (a), including a person performing personal services pursuant such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense..3.Enhancement of non-defense contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4712 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following paragraph:(1)In generalA protected individual may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for the following:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Federal contract or grant, any gross waste of Federal funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Federal contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Federal contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Rights, forum, and remedies not waivable(A)In generalThe rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.(B)ValidityNo provision of the predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this section.;(3)in subsection (e)—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual; (4)by striking subsection (f) and redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:(3)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government, including—(i) the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003));(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)); or(C)a person performing personal services for the Federal Government pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, including a person performing personal services pursuant to such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003))..
119 S874 RS: Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-12-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IICalendar No. 289119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 874IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 5, 2025Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Grassley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsDecember 9, 2025Reported by Mr. Paul, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicA BILLTo ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025.2.Defense contractor employees: protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4701 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)in paragraph (1)—(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—(I)by striking An employee and all that follows through services contractor and inserting A protected individual; and(II)by striking disclosing and all that follows through evidence of; and(ii)by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and inserting the following subparagraphs:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Department of Defense contract or grant, any gross waste of Department funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Department contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Department contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)Gross mismanagement of any National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract or grant, any gross waste of Administration funds, any abuse of authority relating to an Administration contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Administration contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(iii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Clarification for scope of waiver restrictions(A)The rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.(B)No provision of the predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this section.;(3)by striking subsection (e) and redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively;(4)in subsection (e), as so redesignated—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(8)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, including—(i) the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense;(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense; or(C)a person performing personal services for the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, and who engages in an activity for which any reprisal is prohibited under subsection (a), including a person performing personal services pursuant such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense..3.Enhancement of non-defense contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4712 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following paragraph:(1)In generalA protected individual may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for the following:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Federal contract or grant, any gross waste of Federal funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Federal contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Federal contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Rights, forum, and remedies not waivable(A)In generalThe rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.(B)ValidityNo provision of the predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this section.;(3)in subsection (e)—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual;(4)by striking subsection (f) and redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:(3)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government, including—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003));(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)); or(C)a person performing personal services for the Federal Government pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, including a person performing personal services pursuant to such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003))..1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025.2.Defense contractor employees: protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4701 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)in paragraph (1)—(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—(I)by striking An employee and all that follows through services contractor and inserting A protected individual; and(II)by striking disclosing and all that follows through evidence of; and(ii)by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and inserting the following subparagraphs:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Department of Defense contract or grant, any gross waste of Department funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Department contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Department contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)Gross mismanagement of any National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract or grant, any gross waste of Administration funds, any abuse of authority relating to an Administration contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Administration contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(iii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Clarification for scope of waiver restrictionsThe rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.;(3)by striking subsection (e) and redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively;(4)in subsection (e), as so redesignated—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(8)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, including—(i) the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense;(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense; or(C)a person performing personal services for the Department of Defense or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, and who engages in an activity for which any reprisal is prohibited under subsection (a), including a person performing personal services pursuant such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; (ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) within the Department of Defense..3.Enhancement of non-defense contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain informationSection 4712 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following paragraph:(1)In generalA protected individual may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for the following:(A)Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant.(B)Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following:(i)Gross mismanagement of any Federal contract or grant, any gross waste of Federal funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Federal contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Federal contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant.(ii)A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.; and(B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following subparagraph:(B)it shall not be within the authority of an executive branch official to request that a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee engage in a reprisal prohibited by paragraph (1).;(2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:(E)Propose appropriate disciplinary action against any executive branch official for any request made of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee that subjected the complainant to a reprisal prohibited by subsection (a).; and(B)by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following paragraph:(7)Rights, forum, and remedies not waivableThe rights, forum, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived by any public or private agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any predispute arbitration agreement.;(3)in subsection (e)—(A)by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual; and(B)by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual;(4)by striking subsection (f) and redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and(5)in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:(3)The term protected individual means—(A)a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government, including—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003));(B)an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government or a former employee of such contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee whose protected disclosure or engagement in any activity protected against reprisal under this section occurred prior to termination, including an employee of—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)); or(C)a person performing personal services for the Federal Government pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, including a person performing personal services pursuant to such a contractual agreement for—(i)the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States;(ii)the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and(iii)an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003))..December 9, 2025Reported with an amendment
The bill's own words, from our database (synced from the GPO BILLS XML); paragraph breaks added at the bill's section boundaries, nothing else changed.
| Date | Chamber | All Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 03/05/2025 | Library of Congress | Introduced in Senate |
| 03/05/2025 | Senate | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. |
| 07/30/2025 | Senate | Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. |
| 12/09/2025 | Library of Congress | Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. |
| 12/09/2025 | Senate | Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. |
| 12/09/2025 | Senate | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 289. |
| 04/29/2026 | Library of Congress | Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. |
| 04/29/2026 | Senate | Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2100-2102; text: CR S2100-2101) |
| 05/01/2026 | Senate | Message on Senate action sent to the House. |
| 05/04/2026 | House floor actions | Received in the House. |
| 05/04/2026 | House floor actions | Held at the desk. |
| Title Type | Title |
|---|---|
| Display Title | Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 |
| Short Title(s) as Passed Senate | Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 |
| Short Title(s) as Reported to Senate | Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 |
| Short Title(s) as Introduced | Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 |
| Official Title as Introduced | A bill to ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes. |
There are no amendments to this bill.
* = Original cosponsor
| Committee | Activity |
|---|---|
| Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee | 12/09/2025 Reported By |
| Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee | 07/30/2025 Markup By |
| Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee | 03/05/2025 Referred To |
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
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