Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Passed Senate
Summary
Expanded whistleblower protections for people tied to Department of Defense and NASA contracts broaden who is covered and which disclosures count as protected. The change centers on who can speak up and what retaliation is barred.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No contracts waiving whistleblower rights
If enacted, employers and contractors would not be able to make you sign away whistleblower rights. Job policies and forms would not cancel your right to bring a claim. Predispute arbitration agreements would not block your access to the forum and remedies the law provides.
Stronger protections for contractor whistleblowers
If enacted, more workers on Defense and NASA projects would get whistleblower protection. It would cover employees, former employees, and people doing personal services for contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and subgrantees. It would also reach state and local governments, tribes, U.S. territories, and parts of the intelligence community named in law. You would be protected when you report gross waste, abuse of authority, legal violations, or serious dangers to health or safety tied to a contract or grant. You would also be protected if you refuse an order that would break the law. Employers would be barred from firing, demoting, or otherwise punishing you for these actions.
Blocks officials from urging reprisals on contractors
If enacted, executive branch officials would be barred from asking contractors or grantees to retaliate against a whistleblower. Agencies would be able to propose discipline for officials who make such requests when it leads to a prohibited reprisal. This would help protect contractor workers from official-directed punishment like firing or demotion.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
MI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov