U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB5578: Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026
Status: Passed one chamber, July 21, 2026
To ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
An act To ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes.
From the amended text, July 21, 2026:
AN ACT To ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026 . SECTION 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 and (B) in paragraph (3)-- (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual ; and (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following (2) in subsection (c)-- (A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following and (B) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the following (3) in subsection (f)-- (A) by striking an employee and inserting a protected individual ; and (B) by striking the employee and inserting the protected individual ; and (4) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following new and …
Sponsors
- Robert Garcia (D, HD-CA-42) · primary sponsor
- James Comer (R, HD-001)
Latest actions
- : Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465.
- : Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- : On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665)
- : 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)
- : DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5578.
- : Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4664-4666)
- : Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- : Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.
- : Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- : 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.
Subjects: Public contracts and procurement, Employment discrimination and employee rights, Government Operations and Politics, Department of Defense, Administrative remedies, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Common questions
- What is HB5578?
- HB5578 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026.
- What does HB5578 do?
- In its own words: An act To ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB5578?
- Passed one chamber as of July 21, 2026. Latest action: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465. (July 21, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB5578?
- Robert Garcia (D, HD-CA-42), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB5578?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5578
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.