The big stories in the government tech media this week focused on changes to how federal agencies acquire technology services and products, in both defense and civilian agencies. We also saw new developments related to organizational changes at the Pentagon and the General Services Administration (GSA). Read more on these and other trending news below:
A Multitude of Memos at DOD
This has been a busy week at the Department of Defense (DOD), with the department issuing several memos guiding acquisition and oversight – resulting in a spate of coverage across several media outlets:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week ordered Pentagon components not to execute new contracts for IT consulting or management services without written justification, according to coverage by Ross Wilkers for Washington Technology. In his article for DefenseScoop, Jon Harper quoted Hegseth’s memo stating that DOD “must in-source more expertise and harness the unparalleled talent of our existing experts to drive financial efficiency and operational strength.” The memo specifies that new contracts are not allowed if the work can be done by DOD personnel or bought from a direct service provider and not an integrator or consultant, according to a piece by Carley Welch in Breaking Defense. Lisbeth Perez wrote in MeriTalk that the memo requires components to submit a cost-benefit analysis, a review of alternatives and justification to the deputy secretary of Defense before awarding these types of contracts. Reporting on the memo for Federal News Network, Anastasia Obis noted that Hegseth posted on social media that the DOD “likely [employs] more contractors than we have civilian employees and many of them, those contractors, are making more money than our career senior executive employees.”
- In another widely covered memo from Hegseth, the department will shrink the Pentagon office that oversees weapons systems testing by nearly half, leaving individual service branches to conduct testing with less oversight, as reported by Patrick Tucker in Defense One. Ashley Roque noted in Breaking Defense that the office produces an annual report for Congress on the progress and challenges facing major weapon development programs. The move would reduce the office’s staff to 30 civilians, 15 military personnel and one senior leader, according to an article by Courtney Albon in Defense News. John Curran covered the news for MeriTalk, quoting Hegseth’s figure of $300 million a year in savings as a result of the action, and Brandi Vincent reported in DefenseScoop that the move was part of a broader DOD initiative to eliminate redundant and nonessential functions.
- In related DOD news, Hegseth also issued a memo requiring “greater oversight and justification for the procurement of non-commercial products,” Harper reported in DefenseScoop.
- In yet another Hegseth memo, Hegseth granted the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) permission to review solicitations, requirements and cost estimates for new contracts and modifications, Albon wrote in Defense News.
GSA Grabs Headlines
Turning our attention to the federal civilian agencies, the GSA has been a focus of the government tech media for its recent activities related to procurement reform as well as changes at the agency initiated by DOGE:
- Senior GSA officials met this week with industry to discuss contract consolidation and the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul initiative. In an analysis of the meeting, Christine Fritsch of Deltek’s GovWin IQ reported that agency leaders want to return to its original mission and one streamlined process for government procurement. Wilkers also covered the meeting for Washington Technology, noting that GSA officials are relying on industry input as they work through these initiatives.
- Multiple publications covered news of a lawsuit filed by former employees of GSA’s 18F office – an organization that serves as a tech consultant to government agencies. David DiMolfetta and Natalie Alms reported in Nextgov/FCW that the former employees claim the GSA lacked a “valid reason” for their dismissals which they said was retaliation for their perceived political affiliations. In FedScoop, Billy Mitchell wrote that the suit also claimed the former employees were targets due to their support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and for whistleblower activities related to the mishandling of sensitive data. The suit also mentions that 18F charges client agencies for their services, and GSA is actually losing money without these technologists on the job, according to an article by Jory Heckman for Federal News Network.
- In perhaps less contentious GSA news, Grace Dille reported in MeriTalk on a new agency program to make identity proofing simple and easy for citizens when they access federal services online.
That’s a wrap for this week. Here’s a reminder to listen to the W2 Communications “Gov & Beyond” podcast for informative and fun interviews with government tech media figures. Subscribe to this newsletter on LinkedIn or via the form below.
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