Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026

Sponsored byRep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]CA· Introduced 26 septembre 2025

Open on Congress.gov

Cosponsors

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Introduced

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Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465.

21 juillet 2026·2 days ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 16 juillet 2026

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.

Timeline

13 actions

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465.
21 juillet 2026 · Calendars
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5578.
20 juillet 2026 · Floor
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
20 juillet 2026 · Floor
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
20 juillet 2026 · Floor
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
20 juillet 2026 · Floor
Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
20 juillet 2026 · Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules.
20 juillet 2026 · Floor
Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
20 juillet 2026 · Floor
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2 décembre 2025 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.
2 décembre 2025 · Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2 décembre 2025 · Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2 décembre 2025 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.
2 décembre 2025 · Committee
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
26 septembre 2025 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
26 septembre 2025 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
26 septembre 2025 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
26 septembre 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
26 septembre 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
26 septembre 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
26 septembre 2025 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

1 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]CA

Cosponsors

Republican1100%

Republican:Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1]KY

Classification

Policy area

Government Operations and Politics

Legislative subjects

Administrative remediesDepartment of DefenseEmployment discrimination and employee rightsNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationPublic contracts and procurement

Committees

Armed Services Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To26 Sept 2025
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To26 Sept 2025
- Markup By2 Dec 2025

Track Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026 as it moves through Congress