WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that will expand whistleblower protections for government contractors and grantees. The Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act intends to close existing loopholes in whistleblower protection laws that leave federal contractor employees vulnerable to acts of reprisal for reporting instances of waste, fraud, and abuse within federal agencies. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
“Whistleblowers play a critical role in helping to safeguard our democratic institutions by ensuring federal officials are held accountable to wrongdoing,” said Senator Peters. “I am proud the Senate has passed this bipartisan legislation that ensures whistleblowers will have the necessary protections so that they can bring attention to any instance of government misconduct or waste without fear of retaliation.”
“Whistleblowers working for federal contractors and subcontractors shouldn’t face retaliation for sounding the alarm on waste, fraud and abuse,” said Senator Grassley. “These patriots are critical in safeguarding Americans’ tax dollars. As a long-time advocate for whistleblowers, I’m glad to see the Senate pass this legislation to strengthen protections for whistleblowers and close the loopholes that have allowed retaliation.”
To watch video of Senator Peters’ remarks, click here.
A lack of clarity in whistleblower protection laws have raised questions about whether whistleblowers who work for federal contractors are effectively safeguarded from acts of reprisal from federal officials. In some instances, these loopholes have allowed federal officials to retaliate against whistleblowers with no accountability.
The Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act will close existing loopholes to expand whistleblower protections for federal contractors and grantees who blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse, clarify that whistleblower protections cannot be waived by nondisclosure agreement or other conditions of employment, and ensure that these employees are not retaliated against for refusing to perform an action they believe is illegal. The bill also clarifies that executive branch officials do not have the authority to request that contractors retaliate against whistleblowers and allows agencies to take disciplinary action against officials who do so.
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