White House Pushes Agencies to ‘Rightsize’ Workforce After Supreme Court Decision!
The federal workforce is once again in the crosshairs and this time, there’s nothing standing in the way. Following a green light from the Supreme Court, the Trump administration is moving quickly to restart efforts to shrink the size of the federal government, a goal that has been central to its management and efficiency agenda.
At the GovExec Government Efficiency Summit in Washington, D.C., Eric Ueland, Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), confirmed that agencies are relaunching workforce reduction initiatives that had been put on hold by a district court injunction. That legal block, which the Supreme Court recently lifted, had frozen more than 70 Reduction in Force (RIF) actions across 19 agencies.
Too Many People in the Wrong Place!Ueland didn’t mince words. “Now that the court has moved the injunction aside, we’re going to redouble our efforts to examine what departments and agencies are doing, trying to get them right-sized,” he said. His comments point to a renewed drive to assess the alignment of federal staffing with current missions, statutory mandates, and organizational priorities.
While Ueland acknowledged that only a few agencies have begun layoffs since the ruling, efforts to reduce headcount through attrition and incentivized departures are actively underway. Some departments, like the Environmental Protection Agency, are offering extended paid leave under deferred resignation programs, a softer path to workforce reduction.
Still, mass layoffs haven’t been ruled out. And though Ueland noted that some RIFs may now be unnecessary due to voluntary exits, the broader theme is clear: agencies are expected to trim their numbers whether through carrots or sticks.
President Trump’s hiring freeze remains in place through at least October 15, further tightening the federal workforce pipeline and giving agencies little room to backfill vacant positions. For contractors, this may mean shifts in procurement strategies as agencies weigh outsourcing versus internal staffing.In one of the most attention-grabbing moments of the summit, Ueland compared the current state of the federal government to the horror film Final Destination: “No matter what you do to avoid the inevitable, it’s just not going to turn out all that well.” Harsh words and a stark metaphor but in his view, it underscores the urgency of reform.According to Ueland, President Trump is determined to slash bureaucracy, increase accountability, and modernize the federal government. Key pillars of this transformation include:
Cutting unnecessary positions and structures, Streamlining procurement,Expanding U.S.-based production,Enhancing government technology systems, Creating the President’s Management Agenda which is a long-term roadmap for overhauling how the federal government delivers services. Perhaps the most controversial proposal discussed was a new Schedule Policy/Career classification, which would strip some federal employees of traditional civil service protections. In practical terms, this would allow agencies to fire tens of thousands of workers without cause, reshaping federal employment into a more at-will structure.
For contractors and private sector vendors, the implications are complex. On one hand, fewer federal employees may mean more reliance on external support. On the other, frequent restructuring could make agency missions and procurement planning a moving target.For contractors, integrators, and vendors, the federal workforce shake-up presents both opportunities and uncertainty. Fewer in-house staff could lead to increased outsourcing. But shifting priorities, tightened budgets, and changing procurement structures may demand faster pivots, sharper positioning, and stronger value propositions.
Ultimately, as the administration drives its reform agenda, those in the GovCon space must be ready to align, adapt, and respond strategically. Whether this wave of reform reshapes government for the better or merely reduces its footprint remains to be seen.
📜 COMPLIANCE AND REGULATION UPDATES
The Struggle with Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) demands in PPQ compliance is a headache for contractors. When solicitations insist on PPQs without alternatives and your government POCs are unavailable, you may encounter an unduly restrictive requirement.
Leverage the Q&A period to propose CPARS as a substitute PPQ compliance thrives on simplicity. Offer a narrative using the STAR method, backed by PWS/SOW or CO praise, to demonstrate your excellence. Ask if a missing PPQ impacts evaluation. If the agency dodges your question, FAR 33.103(e) allows 10 days to protest, supported by GAO cases like Air USA (B-409236). Forget treating PPQs as a pass/fail checkbox; PPQ compliance values adaptability. No CPARS report strengthens your narrative, as FAR 1.102(d) permits COs to document subpar performance. Embrace flexibility in PPQ compliance to prove your capabilities and succeed in PPQ compliance with ease!
CPARS Performance Evaluation Woes
A recent Sheela Inc. protest decision (B-423412) taught us a vital lesson and that is performance evaluation matters! The GAO upheld a “limited confidence” rating based on 28 CPARS reports, including several marginal and unsatisfactory marks. Sheela’s claim that the agency overfocused on one bad performance evaluation flopped.Every CPARS is fair game! Flash back to a chaotic HHS scenario: a Contracting Officer discovered a COR had ghosted, leaving no performance evaluation documentation. Invoices were paid, but scope creep loomed. Swift action followed. New COR appointed, contractor engaged, and a chance to justify a better-than-Satisfactory performance evaluation. The reason is FAR 42.1503 demands written justification for high ratings. This case screams: maintain robust performance evaluation processes! Sloppy oversight can tank your CPARS, costing contracts. Stay proactive, document diligently, and keep performance evaluation tight to avoid procurement pitfalls.
A Plain Talk on the FAR Overhaul!
The federal government has too many rules. Old ones sit around like expired yogurt in the back of the fridge. No one uses them. No one throws them out either. Now someone finally said, enough. Time to clean up.
Executive Order 14275 is trying to fix this mess. Think of it like someone showing up with a broom and a checklist. The goal is to make the Federal Acquisition Regulation easier to handle. Right now, it is too much. Too confusing. Too heavy.
Most folks do not even know what the FAR is. It is the rulebook that tells the government how to buy things. Everything from coffee cups to rocket fuel. It is long and tangled, like earphones found under the couch after six months.
Reading the FAR is tough. It feels like a book written by too many people who were having a bad day. No one reads it unless they have to. Even then, it takes serious willpower.
So the government came up with a rule. For every new rule added, ten old ones must be removed. It is called the ten for one rule. It is spring cleaning with some muscle behind it.
They also added something called a sunset clause. That means if a rule is not backed by law, it will expire unless someone goes out of their way to save it. Basically, if nobody cares, it disappears.
There is a team doing a full review. They are reading through the whole mess and deciding what stays and what goes. Hopefully, they finish by October. Hopefully.
Why does this matter
Say you own a small business and want to sell your product to a government agency. You have to follow the FAR. If the rules are too confusing, you need lawyers. You waste time. You lose money. You may even give up.
If these rules get cleaner, more people can understand them. That means more businesses might try to work with the government. Small businesses get a better shot. Everyone benefits.
People working inside agencies also get relief. They do not have to spend hours trying to figure out if they can order chairs without setting off some hidden regulation from 1994. They can focus on their actual work.
Still, this is not magic
Cleaning up rules sounds easy. It is not. Some rules are old but useful. Some are there to stop fraud and shady deals. Tossing rules without thinking can cause trouble.
Delete too fast and you might miss something important. Like deleting your Wi-Fi password while cleaning up your desktop. It seemed harmless. Until it wasn’t. Also, people do not agree on what outdated means. One person might think a rule is silly. Another might see it as essential. That is how arguments start.
So what happens now
Agencies are making lists. Businesses are watching closely. Lawyers are staying very busy. Everyone wants things to work better. But change takes time.
This whole thing could be a turning point. Maybe the FAR stops being a confusing mess. Maybe it becomes a normal set of rules that people can actually read. No one will love it. But at least they will not hate it. For folks who deal with contracts, this could mean fewer headaches. Maybe even lunch breaks without guilt. That sounds nice.
SAIC Secures $63.8M Naval Contract for Cutting-Edge Warhead Expansion Systems!
In a powerful win that underscores its strategic role in advanced naval systems, Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), headquartered in Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a $63.8 million cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to support the U.S. Navy’s next-generation warfighting capabilities.The 78-month contract, issued by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division (NUWC), Newport, focuses on the design, manufacture, and delivery of warhead expansion boxes and associated cable kits critical components that support the safe and effective deployment of underwater weapon systems. This marks a significant achievement for SAIC, a longtime leader in defense, engineering, and technology integration.
Lets have a deep dive into the mission.At the core of this contract are warhead expansion boxes, a vital part of modern naval weapons systems. These units function as complex control and distribution hubs, managing electronic signals, safety functions, and system integration within advanced undersea munitions.In addition to the expansion boxes, SAIC will supply the custom cable kits necessary to ensure seamless integration across submarine and torpedo platforms. The precision and reliability required for these systems leave no room for error a testament to the Navy’s trust in SAIC’s technical capabilities and manufacturing standards.
Production and assembly for this program will be spread across four U.S. locations: Bedford, Indiana (42%), Middletown, Rhode Island (32%), Indianapolis, Indiana (20%), Charleston, South Carolina (6%). This distribution reflects both the complexity of the components and SAIC’s ability to leverage a geographically diverse supply chain. It also brings jobs and federal investment to local economies across multiple states, strengthening the defense industrial base. The IDIQ contract will run for a full 78 months (over 6 years), with no option periods, taking the ordering period through January 2032. That kind of long-term commitment is rare and speaks volumes about the Navy’s confidence in SAIC’s engineering excellence and delivery track record.To kick off the contract, $1,001,642 in FY25 weapons procurement funds (Navy) will be obligated immediately on the first task order. These funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year, ensuring a rapid and stable start to production efforts.
As the U.S. Navy continues to evolve its undersea warfare capabilities to counter growing global threats, electronic infrastructure and integration systems like warhead expansion boxes become mission-critical. These components ensure weapon systems are safe, secure, and responsive under the most extreme conditions.This $63.8 million contract isn’t just a win for SAIC it’s a strategic investment in the Navy’s undersea warfare capabilities and a signal of what’s to come. With global naval tensions rising and underwater dominance becoming a top defense priority, components like those SAIC is now delivering will be at the heart of the Navy’s mission success well into the 2030s.For the defense industry, this award showcases the importance of agility, specialization, and enduring trust. And for SAIC? It’s another powerful statement: when it comes to mission-critical systems, they deliver.
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