§ 5853. Limitation on legal fee reimbursement

The Department of Energy shall not, except as required under a contract entered into before August 8, 2005 , reimburse any contractor or subcontractor of the Department for any legal fees or expenses incurred with respect to a complaint subsequent to—

• (1) an adverse determination on the merits with respect to such complaint against the contractor or subcontractor by the Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Hearings and Appeals pursuant to part 708 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, or by a Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge pursuant to section 5851 of this title ; or
• (2) an adverse final judgment by any State or Federal court with respect to such complaint against the contractor or subcontractor for wrongful termination or retaliation due to the making of disclosures protected under chapter 12 of title 5, section 5851 of this title , or any comparable State law,