Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4631 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4631 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEFENSE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES: PROTECTION FROM REPRISAL FOR DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. Section 4701 of title 10, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)-- (I) by striking ``An employee'' and all that follows through ``services contractor'' and inserting ``A protected individual''; and (II) by striking ``disclosing'' and all that follows through ``evidence of''; and (ii) by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and inserting the following subparagraphs: ``(A) Refusing to obey an order that would require the protected individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation related to any contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant. ``(B) Disclosing to a person or body described in paragraph (2) information that the protected individual reasonably believes is evidence of the following: ``(i) Gross mismanagement of any Department of Defense contract or grant, any gross waste of Department funds, any abuse of authority relating to any Department contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant, or any violation of law, rule, or regulation related to any Department contract or subcontract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract or subcontract) or grant or subgrant. ``(ii) Gross mismanagement of any National Aeronautics and Space Administration contract or g