; or (ii) gross mismanagement, including of a contract or grant, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and (B) if the actions do not result in the employee unlawfully disclosing information specifically required by Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs, any lawful disclosure in conjunction with— (i) the exercise of any appeal, complaint, or grievance right granted by any law, rule, or regulation; (ii) testimony for or otherwise lawfully assisting any individual in the exercise of any right referred to in clause (i); or (iii) cooperation with or disclosing information to the Inspector General of an agency, in accordance with applicable provisions of law in connection with an audit, inspection, or investigation conducted by the Inspector General. (12) Personal services contractor The term personal services contractor means an individual awarded a contract with an agency. (13) Subcontractor The term subcontractor means an entity that reaches an agreement with a contractor to fulfill any element of a contract. (14) Subgrantee The term subgrantee means an entity that reaches an agreement with a grantee to fulfill any element of a grant. (b) Prohibition of reprisals (1) In general An employee, applicant, former employee, or personal services contractor carrying out a contract, subcontract, grant, or subgrant for an agency that contains a covered intelligence community element may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against because the employee, applicant, former employee, or personal service contractor was perceived as making or about to make— (A) a protected disclosure; or (B) any lawful disclosure that complies with— (i) subsections (a)(1), (d), or (h) of section 8H of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.); (ii) subparagraphs (A), (D), or (H) of section 17(d)(5) of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 ( 50 U.S.C. 3517(d)(5) )