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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. |
UPDATE: President Trump’s Executive Orders Impose Tariffs on Products from Canada, Mexico, and China: The Cost to Government Contractors, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Jacqueline K. Unger, Christopher A. Jannace
PilieroMazza recently published a client alert (linked here ) regarding three executive orders issued on February 1, 2025, imposing additional tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico, and China that were to be effective February 4, 2025. This client alert provides an update on these tariffs as well as tariffs on steel and aluminum and reciprocal tariffs that were announced last week. Read more here.
Federal Judge Orders USAID and Foreign Aid Funding to be Restored, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Samuel S. Finnerty
On January 20, 2025, the President issued Executive Order Number 14169 (Executive Order), which imposed a 90-day pause on new obligations and disbursements of development assistance funds to foreign countries and implementing non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and contractors pending reviews of such programs. Similarly, in furtherance of the Executive Order, on January 24, 2025, the Secretary of State issued a Memorandum ordering a pause on all new obligations of foreign assistance funding pending an 85-day review of United States foreign assistance programs. Read more here.
Government Contracts and New Mandates: Executive Orders and Cost Recovery Strategies Explained, PilieroMazza Webinar Replay, Lauren Brier, Jacqueline K. Unger
President Trump recently introduced a series of Executive Orders affecting government contractors in terms of new compliance obligations, cost considerations, and enforcement risks. Don’t miss Jackie Unger and Lauren Brier’s in-depth discussion on how recent and upcoming EOs are reshaping the government contracting landscape at federal, state, and local levels. Whether you’re navigating new workforce requirements, supply chain mandates, or funding restrictions, this webinar will provide practical insights to help your business remain compliant and competitive, as well as gain clarity on your rights and strategies to minimize disruptions and improve cost recovery. Click here to access the webinar replay.
Government Contract Executive Orders:
- Executive Order (EO) 14204: Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa: On February 12, EO 14204 was published in the Federal Register. This EO terminates aid or assistance to South Africa “as long as South Africa continues [ ] unjust and immoral practices[.]” The EO permits agency heads to permit the provision of some foreign aid or assistance that is necessary or appropriate. Read more here.
- Executive Order (EO) 14205: Establishment of the White House Faith Office: On February 12, EO 14205 was published in the Federal Register. This EO allows and invites faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to compete for government grants, contracts, programs, and funding opportunities. Among others, the White House Faith Office will be tasked with coordinating with agencies to implement faith-based training and education programs, promote employee volunteerism and charitable giving, and provide policy recommendations. Read more here.
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) News Release: Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) Can Seek DOD Surplus Property
On February 11, DLA released a news article detailing success stories and reminding VOSBs that they can acquire and receive donations and surplus property through surplus property agencies. Read more here.
House Leaders Win Over Conservatives on Plan for Spending Cuts, Bloomberg Government
House Republicans are changing their budget plan in a deal likely to earn support from conservative holdouts who sought a firmer commitment to finding $2 trillion or more in spending cuts. Read more here (subscription required).
Senate GOP Moves First to Advance Trump Priorities in Race with House, The Hill
The Senate Budget Committee passed its resolution on a party-line, 11-10 vote. The resolution unlocks a process called budget reconciliation, which bypasses the Senate filibuster but will require near unanimity among GOP lawmakers in both chambers. Read more here.
Despite Court Orders, Trump Administration Freezes Numerous Funds, The Hill
Despite recent court rulings calling for an end to the Trump administration’s sweeping pause on federal grants, numerous recipients are not getting their promised cash from the government. Read more here.
GOP Lawmakers Urge Trump to Respect Federal Court Rulings, The Hill
Senate Republicans are urging President Trump to respect the rulings of federal judges who have blocked his executive actions to freeze spending on federal grants and loans, dismantle the U.S. Agency on International Development (USAID) and ban birthright citizenship. Read more here.
House GOP Takes First Step Toward Tax Cuts, Debt Limit Increase, Bloomberg News
House Republican leaders took the first step toward enacting trillions of dollars in tax cuts and raising the nation’s $36 trillion debt limit, offering a plan that risks rankling quarreling factions in the party. Read more here (subscription required).
Upcoming Government Contract Presentations
SEMINAR: Executive Briefing: SBA’s New Regulations-Impact on Small Business, March 4, 2025, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV
TRAINING: SBA Regulatory Updates, March 4, 2025, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV
WEBINAR: Federal Spending Freeze and Blocked Executive Orders: Critical Updates for Contractors, March 10, 2025, Lauren Brier, Samuel S. Finnerty
PM WEBINAR: Diversifying Your Contract Pipeline by Maximizing Opportunities Through the DOD’s Mentor-Protégé Program, March 11, 2025, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV, Kristine “Krissy” Crallé
TRAINING: Unlocking the Secrets of Debriefings, Government Evaluation of Proposals and Protests, March 13, 2025, Katherine B. Burrows, Eric Valle
SEMINAR: Impact of White House Executive Orders on Contractors and Agencies, March 19, 2025, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV
WEBINAR: Contracting for IT Services on GSA MAS: Pitfalls and Possibilities, March 20, 2025, Jon Williams
Bloomberg Law Quotes Cy Alba: Trump’s DEI Order Creates Dilemma for Federal Contractors, PilieroMazza News, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV
Federal contractors are scrambling to determine how far they should go in changing policies they’ve used to recruit and retain employees in light of the Trump administration’s crackdown on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Agencies reported spending more than $770 Billion in prime contracts in 2024, and the new administration is now cutting all such DEI efforts and removing any DEI-related work from ongoing contracts. Read more here.
Executive Order (EO) 14210: Implementing the President’s ‘‘Department of Government Efficiency’’ Workforce Optimization Initiative: On February 14, EO 14210 was published in the Federal Register. This EO directs the Director of Office of Management and Budget to create a plan allowing agencies to hire one new employee for every four employees that leave. The plan will maintain a hiring freeze for the Internal Revenue Service and exempt roles relating to public safety and immigration enforcement. Agencies must work with USDS to reduce the workforce and submit hiring reports to USDS. The Office of Personnel Management is directed to prepare rulemaking to establish new federal employment criteria. The EO is available here.
Trump Signs Executive Orders Making It Easier to Fire Feds, Overhaul Official Time, Federal News Network
President Donald Trump signed three executive orders that aim to reduce the time it takes to fire poor-performing federal employees and overhaul federal employees union rights, including cuts to official time. Read more here.
Several Agencies End Telework, Remote Work Agreements and Set Return-To-Office Dates, Federal News Network
Several agencies are rescinding telework and remote work policies for their employees, following up on President Donald Trump’s mandate to send federal employees back to the office full-time. Read more here.
Judge Lifts Restraining Order Blocking Deferred Resignation Program, Federal News Network
The Trump administration is free to continue implementing its controversial deferred resignation program after a federal court in Massachusetts dissolved a restraining order that had delayed the program’s deadline by several days. Read more here.
Trump Orders Agencies to Plan for Widespread Layoffs and Attrition-Based Hiring, Government Executive
On February 11, President Trump signed an executive order that will require federal agencies to severely curtail hiring once the current freeze is lifted and develop new plans to implement widespread layoffs across government. Read more here.
EPA Orders Most Workers Back Within Weeks, Breaking Union Covenants, Government Executive
The Environmental Protection Agency told employees that the vast majority of them would be expected to return to traditional work sites over the next three months, with most expected in-office five days a week before the end of February. Read more here.
OPM Continues to Tweak ‘Deferred Resignation’ Provisions as Unions Press Court Challenge, Government Executive
In a memo to agency heads, Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell instructed agencies to treat the deferred resignation program, in which most of the federal workforce was offered paid administrative leave in exchange for departing government by Sept. 30, as an “exit incentive program” under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, “out of an abundance of caution.” Read more here.
Some Agencies Begin Purges of Recent Hires Even as OPM Directs Federal Offices to Pump the Brakes, Government Executive
At least two federal agencies have dismissed some or all of their recent hires this week, though the Trump administration has otherwise instructed heads of government offices not to plan similar mass firings for those workers. Read more here.
DOGE Order Triggers Firings at SBA of Employees Prematurely Fired Friday, Politico
Hours after he signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to work with the Elon Musk-led DOGE Service to cut their current workforce and limit future hiring, the termination notices started hitting the in-boxes of a few hundred probationary employees at the Small Business Administration. Federal workers who mistakenly got termination notices last week got real ones just hours after the president’s executive order. Read more here.
Trump ‘Two Sexes’ Order Complicates Employers’ Rules on Pronouns, Bloomberg Law
The Trump administration’s shifting anti-bias enforcement priorities are muddling an already intricate legal landscape for employees who want to use pronouns that align with their gender identity in the workplace. Read more here (subscription required).
GSA to Cut at Least 100 Employees, Feds Inside the Agency Say, NextGov/FCW
Employees within the agency’s Technology Transformation Services received calls from supervisors informing them of their impending dismissals. The General Services Administration appears to be dismissing at least 100 tech employees, according to estimates several current GSA employees not authorized to speak on the record. Read more here.
Ga. House Bill Would Exclude Overtime Pay from Income Tax, Law360
Georgia would exclude overtime compensation from state income taxes under a bill filed in the state House of Representatives. H.B. 375, filed and sponsored by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, R-Bremen, chair of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, and others, would provide the exclusion for taxable years starting on or after Jan. 1, 2026, according to the bill text. Read more here (subscription required).
OPM Eases Plans to Target All Federal Workers on Probation, The Hill
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is instructing agencies that they do not have to fire all federal employees still on probation but is encouraging them to remove any low performers. Read more here.
Upcoming Labor & Employment Presentations
SEMINAR: Key Labor & Employment Rules, February 25, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah
CONFERENCE: Navigating HR Laws in the DMV Area: Your Must-Have Cheat Sheet (For Federal Contractors & More), February 25, 2025, Sarah L. Nash
TRAINING: Labor Rules & Regulations: Federal Market Compliance, February 26, 2025, Sarah L. Nash
PM WEBINAR: How to Comply with Trump’s Executive Order, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, February 27, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah, Sarah L. Nash
CONFERENCE: Driving Growth with Fractional Human Resources, March 10, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah
CONFERENCE: Ins and Outs of the Service Contract Act for GovCons, March 11, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Press Release: Grassley, Longtime Champion of the False Claims Act (FCA), Urges AG Bondi to Fully Review Biden-Harris DOJ’s Pending Qui Tam Case Dismissals
On February 11, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Committee, is urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately halt pending FCA qui tam case dismissals issued under the Biden-Harris administration and conduct a full review to ensure decisions were made appropriately and in accordance with the facts and law. According to the DOJ, in 2024 qui tam FCA cases yielded the lion’s share of recoveries, recouping $2.4 billion out of the $2.9 billion recovered. Read more here.
Trump Sued After Quietly Firing Top Whistleblower Protector, The Hill
President Trump fired the leader of an office designed to protect government whistleblowers, a detail revealed in a lawsuit from the head of the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC). Read more here.
Upcoming False Claims Act Presentations
PM WEBINAR: PilieroMazza Annual Review: What DOJ’s 2024 FCA Report Means for Government Contractors, February 26, 2025, Jacqueline K. Unger, Matthew E. Feinberg
DEI Controversy Collides With State-Level Cyber Workforce Needs, Route Fifty
Despite the federal government’s movement away from DEI practices, state agencies can still explore ways to broaden their cyber workforces to fill talent gaps. Read more here.
Congress Wants the Army to Start Collecting More Open-Source Intelligence, Defense One
Buried deep in the 2025 National Defense Authorization is a short provision suggesting that the Army might—maybe, if it feels like it—look into standardizing the way it procures open-source intelligence-collection software. Read more here.
House Republicans Launch Efforts to Craft Data Privacy Standard, Bloomberg Government
House Republicans launched a working group to take on a long-desired yet notoriously challenging goal: crafting a national data privacy standard. House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Vice Chair John Joyce (R-Pa.) announced the creation of a Republican-led group that aims to “bring members and stakeholders together to explore a framework for legislation that can get across the finish line,” they said in a joint statement. Read more here (subscription required).