Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025

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.

House Committee on Homeland Security · U.S. House of Representatives

Also referred to Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs · U.S. Senate.

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Cosponsors

Related bills

• H.R. 5578Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026Related bill
• S. 4631Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026Related bill

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

1. May 4, 2026

   Introduced

   Held at the desk.

   U.S. Senate

2. May 4, 2026

   Held at the desk.

3. May 4, 2026

   Held at the desk.

4. May 4, 2026

   Sent to the executive

   Received in the House.

   U.S. House of Representatives

5. May 1, 2026

   Message on Senate Action Sent to the House.

   Message on Senate action sent to the House.

   U.S. Senate

Read the record

• Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.