# 119-hr-5578: Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026

119-hr-5578, Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA); status passed_house; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5578
- As of: 2026-08-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5578
- Congress: 119
- Title: Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026
- Status: passed_house
- Introduced: 2025-09-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-08

## Summary

**Whistleblower protections for contractors** would be broadened and strengthened to cover more people tied to federal contracts, including defense and NASA work. The bill would expand who counts as a protected individual, list protected activities like refusing illegal orders or disclosing gross mismanagement, bar common waivers such as predispute arbitration, and require proposals for discipline when executive officials ask for reprisals. - Contractors and workers: The definition of protected individuals would reach Department of Defense and NASA contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, certain personal-service contractors, and some former employees whose disclosures occurred before they left. - What counts as protected activity: People would be shielded for refusing orders to break the law and for reporting gross mismanagement, gross waste, abuse of authority, violations of law in contract competition or negotiation, or substantial and specific dangers to public health or safety. - Government partners and officials: Protections would extend to related state, territorial, tribal, and local government entities. The bill would bar waivers of rights, forum, and remedies in agreements and require agencies to propose appropriate disciplinary action when an executive branch official requests a prohibited reprisal.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1] (R-KY), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More contractors counted as protected whistleblowers: benefit, medium. If enacted, this would cover more people under federal contractor whistleblower rules. It would include workers for contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and subgrantees on federal, Defense, or NASA work. It would also cover workers at state, local, tribal, and territorial governments when they do…
- No forced arbitration of whistleblower claims: benefit, medium. If enacted, employers would not be able to make you give up whistleblower rights in contracts or policies. Any agreement or form, including a predispute arbitration clause, would not waive your rights, forum, or remedies under this law. Even if your job contract has an arbitration clause, it would…
- Officials blocked from pushing retaliation: benefit, medium. If enacted, executive branch officials would not be allowed to ask contractors or grantees to retaliate against protected workers. If an official’s request led to a forbidden reprisal, the agency would have to propose appropriate discipline. This would apply in defense, NASA, and civilian federal c…
- Protection for reporting waste or danger: benefit, medium. If enacted, covered workers would be protected from firing, demotion, or punishment for certain actions. You would be protected for refusing an order that would break the law on a contract or grant. You would be protected for telling the named offices or people about gross mismanagement, gross wast…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-4714: End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5578 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5578)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-4714: End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4714)
- [119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5658)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5578 (as of 2026-08-08).