To ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Introduced
Latest Action · July 29, 2024
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 448.
This bill strengthens legal protections for whistleblowers who work as contractors, subcontractors, grantees, or personal services providers for federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and NASA. It expands the definition of who counts as a "protected individual" to include a broader range of workers, such as employees of state, tribal, and territorial governments performing federal contract work, and clarifies that federal officials cannot legally order or request retaliation against these individuals for refusing to violate laws or for reporting waste, fraud, abuse, or dangers to public health and safety. The bill also makes clear that whistleblower rights cannot be signed away through arbitration agreements or other contracts, and it allows agencies to discipline officials who improperly pressure contractors to retaliate against whistleblowers. Additionally, engaging in protected whistleblowing activity can now be used as a legal defense if someone faces civil or criminal charges related to that activity. The legislation does not include specific new funding, and it would take effect upon enactment, applying to federal contracting and grant relationships going forward.
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