119th Congress
S. 874
Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
- Sponsor
- Gary C. Peters(D-MI)
- Introduced
- Mar 5, 2025
- Policy area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Committees
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
- Official text
- Engrossed in Senate · Congress.gov page
Cosponsors (1)
Added later (1)
- Chuck Grassley (R-IA) · Jul 15, 2025
Summary
Summary by the Congressional Research Service· describes the “Introduced in Senate” version
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.
Roll-call votes
No recorded votes on this bill.
Actions
- May 4, 2026 · House
Held at the desk. - May 4, 2026 · House
Received in the House. - May 1, 2026 · Senate
Message on Senate action sent to the House. - Apr 29, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2100-2102; text: CR S2100-2101) - Apr 29, 2026
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. - Dec 9, 2025 · Senate
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 289. - Dec 9, 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. - Jul 30, 2025 · Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. - Mar 5, 2025 · Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. - Mar 5, 2025
Introduced in Senate