Management
Federal contractor DEI initiatives singled out in latest Trump executive order
Trump’s anti-diversity directives already impacted contractors, but the new order imposes additional requirements.
Oversight
VA’s former EHR lead indicted for concealing contractor gifts
The Justice Department alleges that John Windom accepted and sometimes demanded various gifts while helming the electronic health record modernization at Veterans Affairs.
Management
Kristi Noem misled Congress about top aide’s role in DHS contracts
Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Noem denied that Corey Lewandowski had any role in approving contracts. But internal DHS records and interviews with current and former agency staffers contradict her testimony.
Management
Why federal acquisition must adapt to survive
COMMENTARY | In a world where the only constant is change, failure to adapt equals extinction.
Management
The revolutionary new weapon in the Pentagon’s pocket — and why it matters now more than ever
COMMENTARY | The launch of comprehensive acquisition transformation will lift the burdens keeping U.S. companies from being as agile and responsive as possible.
Management
DOGE was government contracting's biggest story of 2025 — and it's not close
COMMENTARY | Contract cancellations, exaggerated savings claims and consulting contract reviews dominated our most-read stories of the year.
Defense
Pentagon preps to enforce ban on companies with ‘indirect’ ties to China
Defense firms will be notified of potential links to blacklisted Chinese-military companies a year before the contracting ban goes into effect, the assistant defense secretary for industrial policy said.
Management
Lawmaker looks to shake up VA’s software management
Legislation from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., prioritizes waste reduction when it comes to the roughly $1 billion that VA spends annually on software assets.
Management
Agencies will have to contend with tight budgets even after Trump, contracting association predicts
While agencies are currently facing reduced budgets, the Professional Services Council expects that trend will continue due to the potential exhaustion of Medicare and Social Security funding.
Management
Civilian agency spending cratered during shutdown
October spending during the shutdown dropped by as much as 80% for some agencies compared to October 2024.
Management
Agencies could still be digging out from shutdown when funding deal ends, association says
The Congressional Budget Office and an industry group for federal contractors both predict the government won’t return to pre-shutdown operational levels until 2026. A partial funding lapse could start at the end of January without congressional action.
Workforce
Shutdown compounds a year of pain for federal contractors, employees
Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., says the closure amplifies the billions in contract cancellations and workforce cuts.
Management
Contractors fear retaliation if they try to recover shutdown costs
Legal rights do exist for companies to recoup their losses, but attorneys say fears of Trump administration reprisal loom over industry.
Tech
As agencies shed staff, industry execs predict AI agents' rise
Amid the White House’s ongoing push to reduce the federal workforce, “government will be the largest users of agentic technologies of any industry,” predicted one Salesforce exec.
Management
Proposed FAR changes remove contractor diversity requirements, keep disability rules
COMMENTARY | The new language follows one of President Trump’s first executive orders to eliminate diversity requirements in federal contracts.
Management
Senate confirms Rhodes to lead White House procurement office
Kevin Rhodes has been a senior adviser to the Office of Management and Budget since February and focused his efforts on the Federal Acquisition Regulation overhaul.
Workforce
Shutdown’s ripple effect: Contractors, small businesses face devastating economic hit
At least 1 million contractor employees face lost paychecks as the funding lapse disrupts their companies' services to agencies and freezes federal operations.
Tech
Tech under OneGov remains ‘fully available’ during shutdown — but agencies may lack funds and personnel to access it
Some of the advanced software tools made available to federal agencies as part of the OneGov initiative are available for a limited time with impending expirations.
Management
Reductions in force could make bad situation worse for federal contractors during government shutdown
Some federal contractors have already reported problems connecting with their contracting officers.
Defense