; (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); and (iii) any entity that is recipient of a Federal award as defined in section 2(a) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 ( 31 U.S.C. 6101 note); (B) an employee, applicant, or former employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee of the Federal Government, including an employee of— (i) the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; and (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i); or (C) a person performing personal services for the Federal Government pursuant to a contractual agreement for the performance of personal services, including a personal services contract or personal services agreement, including a person performing personal services pursuant to such a contractual agreement for— (i) the government of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States; and (ii) the government of any political subdivision of, agency of, or instrumentality of, a government listed in clause (i). ; (5) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and (6) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: (h) Affirmative defense Engaging in any activity protected against reprisal under this section shall be an affirmative defense in any civil or criminal action that seeks liability for engaging in such activity. .