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House bill · H.R. 5578 (119th Congress)

Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026

U.S. House of Representatives

Latest action Jul 21, 2026

Sponsor: Robert Garcia (U.S. Representative, CA-42, Democratic)

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From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Aug 3, 2026. About our data

Summary

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.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

House Committee on Armed Services · U.S. House of Representatives

Also referred to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform · U.S. House of Representatives, Senate Committee on Armed Services · U.S. Senate.

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Cosponsors

1

Cosponsors listed on Congress.gov, shown A to Z.

  • Republican1

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Related bills

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

  1. Jul 21, 2026

    Sent to the executive

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

    U.S. Senate

  2. Jul 21, 2026

    Introduced

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

    U.S. House

  3. Jul 20, 2026

    Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H4664-4666)

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4664-4666)

  4. Jul 20, 2026

    Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H4664-4666)

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4664-4666)

  5. Jul 20, 2026

    Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H4664-4666)

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4664-4666)

Show full history (16 earlier events)
  1. Jul 20, 2026

    Debate - the House Proceeded With Forty Minutes of Debate on H.R. 5578.

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5578.

    U.S. House of Representatives

  2. Jul 20, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jul 20, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. Jul 20, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  5. Jul 20, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665)

    U.S. House of Representatives

  6. Dec 2, 2025

    Committee vote

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  7. Dec 2, 2025

    Committee vote

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  8. Dec 2, 2025

    Committee vote

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  9. Dec 2, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.

  10. Dec 2, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.

  11. Dec 2, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.

  12. Sep 26, 2025

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    U.S. House of Representatives

  13. Sep 26, 2025

    Introduced

    Introduced in U.S. House

    U.S. House

  14. Sep 26, 2025

    Referred to 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.

  15. Sep 26, 2025

    Referred to 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.

  16. Sep 26, 2025

    Referred to 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.

Read the record