S 874

Summary

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. 

Bill status

Status

Passed Senate

Sponsor

Sen. Gary C. Peters [D-MI]

Cosponsors

1

Policy area

Government Operations and Politics

Introduced

2025-03-05

Latest action

2026-05-04: Held at the desk.

Committee referrals

• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Senate · Reported By · 2025-12-09
• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Senate · Markup By · 2025-07-30
• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Senate · Referred To · 2025-03-05

Recent actions

• 2026-04-29: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
• 2026-04-29: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
• 2025-12-09: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 289.
• 2025-12-09: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
• 2025-12-09: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.