Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026

This bill would expand whistleblower protections for employees of federal contractors and grant recipients to include those who refuse to obey orders that would violate laws or regulations. These protections would be extended to include current or former members of the intelligence community and employees of state, local, or tribal governments. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the waiver of these protections in predispute arbitration agreements and allow for disciplinary action against executive branch officials who request reprisals against protected employees.

This bill affects employees of federal contractors, subcontractors, and grant recipients, including current or former members of the intelligence community and employees of state, local, or tribal governments. It also impacts executive branch officials, who are prohibited from requesting reprisals against these employees and may face disciplinary action for doing so. Additionally, the legislation affects entities that utilize predispute arbitration agreements, as it renders such agreements unenforceable regarding these whistleblower protections.

• Protection for refusing unlawful orders. Expands existing whistleblower protections to include employees of federal contractors or grant recipients who refuse to obey orders that would require them to violate laws, rules, or regulations related to federal funding.
• Expansion of protected employee categories. Specifies that whistleblower protections apply to current or former members of the intelligence community and employees of state, local, or tribal governments working under federal contracts or grants.
• Prohibition on predispute arbitration waivers. Ensures that these whistleblower protections cannot be waived through predispute arbitration agreements and renders such agreements unenforceable regarding these claims.
• Restrictions on executive branch interference. Prohibits executive branch officials from requesting that contractors or grant recipients retaliate against protected employees and authorizes federal agencies to propose disciplinary action against officials who do so.

• H.R. 5578, Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act
  Jan 26, 2026 · As ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on December 2, 2025

The bill expands existing whistleblower protections for employees of federal contractors and grant recipients by adding refusal to obey an unlawful order as a protected act. It further extends these legal safeguards to include members of the intelligence community and employees of state, local, or tribal governments working under federal contracts or grants.

The bill aims to strengthen whistleblower protections for employees of federal contractors and grant recipients by shielding them from retaliation for refusing to obey unlawful orders. It also extends these protections to members of the intelligence community and certain government employees while ensuring that such rights cannot be waived through predispute arbitration agreements.