119th Congress Government Operations and Politics
H.R. 5578: Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026
Passed House
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
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.
Read the full summary
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.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- James Comer R-KYOriginal
Who scored on this bill
- 1Robert Garcia SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, marked up, passed House4 events+48
- 2James ComerCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
See all scorers and every scoring event
Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
Other bills by Robert Garcia
History
- Passed the House by voice vote.
- Introduced in the House by Robert Garcia.
Show the full action history (14 actions)
- Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665)
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4664-4666)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665)
- Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Considered under suspension of the rules.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5578.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.