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119-s-874119th CongressWALLET

Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

Passed Senate

Summary

Expands whistleblower protections for people tied to Department of Defense and NASA contracts and grants. It would broaden who is covered, expand the kinds of disclosable wrongdoing, and let agencies punish officials who seek reprisals through contractors.

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  • Contractor, grantee, and personal services workers. The bill would replace the term "employee" with "protected individual" to cover contractor and grantee employees, former employees, people under personal services contracts, and state, tribal, and territorial governments and their instrumentalities.
  • Broadens protected disclosures. It would protect reports of gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, violations of law related to contracts or grants, and substantial threats to public health or safety.
  • Limits reprisals and blocks waivers. The bill would bar executive officials from directing reprisals through contractors, authorize proposing disciplinary action against officials who seek such reprisals, and forbid waiving these rights in agreements or predispute arbitration.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More reports protected at Defense and NASA

If enacted, more types of whistleblower activity on Defense or NASA work would be protected. You would be protected if you refuse an order that would break a law or rule tied to the contract. You would be protected if you report gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or legal violations, including during bidding or negotiations. You would also be protected if you report a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. These protections would apply when you report to the offices named in the law. They would take effect upon enactment.

More workers on federal contracts protected

If enacted, more people working on federal contracts and grants would be protected from retaliation. This would include employees and former employees who spoke up before leaving. It would also include people doing personal services under contract. It would cover work with Defense and NASA, and with other federal agencies. People working for state, local, tribal, or territorial governments on these awards would be covered too. It would take effect upon enactment.

Stronger anti-retaliation for contractor whistleblowers

If enacted, agencies would be barred from asking contractors to punish whistleblowers. Agencies would need to propose discipline for officials who made such requests. You would not be able to sign away these rights in any policy or contract. Predispute arbitration could not take away your forum or remedies. These changes would apply across federal contractor and grant rules, including Defense and NASA. They would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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