President Trump’s DEI Executive Orders Are Back On: What Contractors Need To Know
On March 14, the Fourth Circuit stayed a preliminary injunction that had prohibited President Trump’s administration and federal agencies from implementing Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 (“DEI Executive Orders”). This means the Trump administration can proceed with implementing the DEI Executive Orders pending ongoing litigation. In this blog, we discuss what federal contractors should take away from the Fourth Circuit’s order. Executive Orders 14173 and 14151 are the primary mechanisms President Trump has used to wind down certain Diversity, Equity, . . . Read More
GSA to Oversee Federal Purchasing: A Step Toward Efficiency or a Challenge for Agencies and Contractors?
On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to consolidate federal procurement under the General Services Administration (GSA). Framed as an effort to eliminate waste and save taxpayer dollars, the order mandates that federal agencies shift their purchasing of common goods and services to the GSA. While this move is being touted as a step toward efficiency, the reality may be far more complex for government contractors. What Does the Executive Order Require? The order mandates several major changes to . . . Read More
Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle, Part 1: Entity Formation and Organization
Starting and operating a business—whether a small business, startup, or government contractor—involves a myriad of risks, many of which can lead to costly and potentially damaging litigation. While these risks evolve over the life of a company, early-stage businesses, especially those in the process of entity formation and drafting corporate governance documents, are particularly vulnerable. In this first part of PilieroMazza’s blog series, “Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle,” we explore how understanding these risks and taking proactive steps . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 20, 2025
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . Podcasts: Listen to PilieroMazza’s podcasts GovCon Live! here , Clocking in with PilieroMazza here , and Ex Rel. Radio here . A Message from PilieroMazza, PilieroMazza News The PilieroMazza family remains fully committed to supporting you and your business during these uncertain times. Shifting priorities under the new administration are a challenge for . . . Read More
Nichole Atallah Speaks with Federal News Network: DoD No Longer Requires Equal Employment Opportunity Clauses In Contracts
A new policy directs all Defense Department components not to include Equal Employment Opportunity provisions and clauses in new contracts and solicitations. In a memo released on March 4, John Tenaglia, the defense pricing, contracting and acquisition policy principal director, instructed DoD contracting officers not to enforce President Lyndon B. Johnson’s executive order signed in 1965 that mandated all federal contractors to promote equal employment opportunities and prevent discrimination. . . . “It is a shift — it’s been around since . . . Read More
CPARS Ratings: Subjective or Objective? ASBCA Weighs In
For government contractors, a Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) rating can make or break future opportunities. But how objective are these ratings? A recent ruling [1] by the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (Board) sheds light on a crucial reality—CPARS ratings are not purely fact-based assessments; they’re the government’s opinion on contractor performance. The Case: A Battle Over CPARS Ratings St. Michael’s Inc. (SMI) challenged three CPARS ratings issued by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), arguing that the ratings . . . Read More
No More Minimum Wage Obligations Shifts Pricing Strategies for Service and Construction Contractors
On Friday, March 14, 2025, President Trump revoked Executive Order 14026, Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors (EO). Government contractors in the service and construction sectors should evaluate how Trump’s decision to cancel the EO will impact their pricing strategies and outstanding price adjustment requests. Effective immediately, contractors are no longer bound by EO 14026’s minimum wage requirements. This means that most service and construction contractors may revert employee pay to the applicable wage determination rates under their contracts. . . . Read More
A Message from PilieroMazza
I hope this message finds you well. The PilieroMazza family remains fully committed to supporting you and your business during these uncertain times. Shifting priorities under the new administration are a challenge for all of us, but please know we are here to help you avoid potential risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities. To assist in keeping you informed, I encourage you to visit our “Government Contract Executive Orders” resource center (linked here ), where we provide up-to-date coverage on . . . Read More
No More Free Passes? New Order Forces Plaintiffs to Pay for Injunctions Against the Federal Government
In a bold move to curb the growing number of lawsuits halting the implementation of recent executive policies, the Trump administration issued an executive order , “Ensuring the Enforcement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(c),” aimed at making it more difficult for plaintiffs to obtain injunctions against the federal government. This order seeks to enforce a rule requiring plaintiffs to post a security equal to the government’s potential costs and damages if an injunction is later found to be unjustified. It . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 13, 2025
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . Podcasts: Listen to PilieroMazza’s podcasts GovCon Live! here , Clocking in with PilieroMazza here , and Ex Rel. Radio here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS March 2025: Reducing the Negative Impacts of a Government Shutdown for Federal Contractors, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Jacqueline K. Unger , Nichole D. Atallah , Lauren Brier On top of the uncertainty introduced through the Trump administration’s shifting priorities and rapid-fire . . . Read More