The bill aims to expand whistleblower protections for employees of defense and non-defense federal contractors. It prohibits reprisals for refusing to violate laws or regulations, and for disclosing evidence of gross mismanagement, waste of funds, abuse of authority, violations of law, or dangers to public health or safety. It adds protection for employees, former employees, and personal services contractors. The bill also states that executive branch officials cannot request reprisals, and proposes disciplinary action against such officials. Additionally, it clarifies that rights, forum, and remedies provided in the bill cannot be waived by any agreement, including predispute arbitration agreements.
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.
