This bill strengthens legal protections for whistleblowers who work on federal contracts, expanding safeguards beyond just direct employees of contractors to also cover subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, personal services contractors, and former employees whose disclosures occurred before they left their jobs. It shields these individuals from being fired, demoted, or otherwise punished for refusing illegal orders or for reporting gross mismanagement, waste, abuse of authority, legal violations, or serious dangers to public health and safety connected to government contracts or grants. The protections apply broadly, covering contractors working with the Department of Defense, NASA, and other federal agencies, as well as state, tribal, and territorial governments carrying out federal contracts. The law also makes clear that federal officials cannot pressure contractors into retaliating against whistleblowers, and it bars any employment agreement, company policy, or arbitration clause from waiving these whistleblower rights and remedies. The bill does not specify new funding, but agency inspectors general are directed to recommend discipline against any executive branch official found responsible for ordering such retaliation.
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