Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025

U.S. Congress · S874 · Introduced

Progression

Timing in context

Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)

Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.

What the bill says

S874 · U.S. Congress · Introduced

Introduced 2025-03-05. Latest action: Held at the desk.

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Summary (plain-language)

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.

Sponsors

Text versions

  • Introduced in Senate — 2025-03-05 — XML
  • Reported to Senate — 2025-12-09 — XML
  • Engrossed in Senate — 2026-04-29 — XML

What analysts say

CBO cost estimates

  • S. 874, Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025 — 2025-10-30
    S. 874 would expand and clarify existing protections for federal contractors and grantees against reprisal for disclosing that a federal agency is eng…

    S. 874 would expand and clarify existing protections for federal contractors and grantees against reprisal for disclosing that a federal agency is engaging in specific activities, including grossly mismanaging its accounts, violating the law, or endangering public health or safety.

    CBO estimates that implementing S. 874 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026-2030 period for administrative costs to update the relevant policies and procedures. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    Enacting S. 874 could affect direct spending by some agencies that are allowed to use fees, receipts from the sale of goods, and other collections to cover operating costs. CBO estimates that any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be negligible because most of them can adjust amounts collected to reflect changes in operating costs.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    Full text from cbo.gov (CBO publications are public domain).

What politicians say

No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.

Action History

DateAction
2026-05-04Received in the House.
2026-05-04Held at the desk.
2026-05-01Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2026-04-29Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
2026-04-29Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2100-2102; text: CR S2100-2101)
2025-12-09Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
2025-12-09Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 289.
2025-07-30Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
2025-03-05Introduced in Senate
2025-03-05Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

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