HR 5578 United States House · 119th Congress

Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026

HR 5578 expands whistleblower protections for employees and contractors working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It broadens the definition of "protected individual" to include state/local governments, tribal organizations, and intelligence community personnel working under federal contracts. Key changes prohibit retaliation for reporting gross mismanagement, waste, safety dangers, or violations of law, ban forced arbitration waivers that would override these rights, and require disciplinary action against officials who request retaliation. This applies specifically to DoD/NASA contractors under Section 4701 and extends similar protections to all federal contractors under Section 4712 of U.S. Code.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Dec 2025

House Passage

Jul 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Sep 26, 2025 Last action Jul 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 3 edits · Jul 20, 2026

MINOR

The engrossed version removes references to intelligence community elements from the definition of 'protected individual' in both the DoD/NASA and Federal Government whistleblower protection sections, narrowing who qualifies for anti-reprisal protections. The remaining changes are technical: a year update in the short title (2025 to 2026), paragraph renumbering, and corrected subsection cross-references to match the current state of the underlying statute.

SCOPE

Removed 'an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947)' from the definition of 'protected individual' in all three subcategories (contractors, employees, and personal services contractors) in both the DoD/NASA section and the broader Federal Government section. This means intelligence community personnel working through DoD or other federal agencies are no longer explicitly covered by the expanded whistleblower protections.

TECHNICAL

Short title year changed from 2025 to 2026, reflecting the legislative session in which the bill is being considered.

Paragraph (7) renumbered to paragraph (8) in section 4701, and subsection cross-references corrected (the original version struck and redesignated subsections; the engrossed version amends them in place), indicating the committee adjusted the amendment structure to align with the current codified text.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 20, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665)

lower

Jul 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665)

lower

Jul 20, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Sep 26, 2025

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

lower

Sep 26, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor