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119-s-1154119th CongressWALLET

Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

Expands whistleblower protections to contractors, applicants, and others beyond federal employees. This bill would broaden who can petition Congress and create both administrative remedies and a federal private right of action for retaliation related to those petitions.

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  • Workers and applicants: Federal employees, contractor and subcontractor staff, grantees, subgrantees, personal services contractors, and job applicants would be treated as "covered individuals" and could seek protections for furnishing information or petitioning Congress.
  • Administrative remedies: Covered individuals would be able to pursue corrective action under the existing track that fits their category, including the general federal employee track, FBI and intelligence tracks, or contractor-specific statutes.
  • Private lawsuits and remedies: If a final administrative decision does not issue within 180 days or denies relief, a covered individual could sue in federal court for de novo review and seek up to 200 percent of lost wages and 100 percent of lost benefits, reinstatement, attorney fees, compensatory and equitable relief, and a jury trial.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Larger court awards for whistleblowers

If enacted, a covered individual could sue in federal court if an administrative decision giving relief is not issued within 180 days or if the administrative process denies relief. If enacted, a court could award twice your lost wages and 100% of lost benefits, with interest. If enacted, courts could also order reinstatement, compensatory damages, attorney fees and costs, equitable relief, and other relief the court finds appropriate. If enacted, you could request a jury trial.

More whistleblower protections for workers

If enacted, this bill would expand who is a "covered individual." You would be covered if you are an employee, former employee, or applicant of a federal agency or of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor. If enacted, covered people could use the correct federal administrative remedy track for their job type (general federal, FBI, intelligence community, or contractor employee). If enacted, the same burden-of-proof rules used in existing personnel cases would apply to these administrative claims.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 4/1/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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