H.R. 10792 — FTC Whistleblower Act of 2026

This section prohibits covered entities from retaliating against whistleblowers for making covered disclosures to qualified entities or supervisors, participating in investigations or proceedings, or objecting to violations. It creates a private right of action with a 6-year (or 3-year from discovery) statute of limitations capped at 10 years, bars predispute arbitration agreements and restrictive covenants, and provides prevailing whistleblowers with reinstatement, treble back pay with interest, and compensatory damages. It also bars covered entities from impeding direct communications with qualified entities, treats such interference as an unfair or deceptive act enforceable by the FTC, and requires the FTC to maintain whistleblower confidentiality.

This section establishes a whistleblower award program at the Federal Trade Commission. It requires awards of 10 to 30 percent of collected monetary sanctions for original information that leads to successful resolution of a covered action, paid from the newly created Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Fund, which receives deposits of such sanctions until the balance reaches $500 million. It sets eligibility criteria and denial conditions, requires counsel for anonymous claims, bars awards for false information, and authorizes appeals to the appropriate U.S. court of appeals within 30 days.

This section defines terms used in the Act, including the Commission as the Federal Trade Commission, covered actions as administrative or judicial proceedings resulting in monetary sanctions exceeding $1,000,000, covered violations as violations of Commission-enforced laws or final orders, and whistleblowers as current or former employees, contractors, or agents providing original information on such violations.