Key Executive Orders Passed by President Trump and Their Implications for Government Contractors
Since President Trump took office a little over ten days ago, he has issued a flurry of Executive Orders (EO) aiming to further his policy objectives and rescind certain policies set by the Biden Administration. Many of these EOs affect government contractors working on federal contracts, as well as contractors working on state and local projects that receive federal assistance. On February 12, 2025, PilieroMazza will host a webinar addressing these Executive Orders in-depth and provide cost recovery strategies for . . . Read More
Trump’s Executive Order on IIJA and IRA Contracts: Maximizing Cost Recovery for Government Contractors
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order entitled “ Unleashing American Energy ” (the Executive Order) aimed at reversing many of the Biden Administration’s clean energy and climate-related actions. The Executive Order will have significant impacts on many contracts (as well as grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and other awards) that are funded by either the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) or the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Given the Executive Order and its wide-ranging impacts on federal, state, and local projects, PilieroMazza provides important steps for potentially affected contractors . . . Read More
Executive Order Targets Affirmative Action Programs: New Compliance Requirements for Government Contractors
Just days into taking office, President Trump delivered on his campaign promises to dismantle DEI programs in federal agencies. On January 20 and 21, President Trump issued two such executive orders targeting DEI and affirmative action-based programs for agencies and government contractors. PilieroMazza previously wrote about Trump’s Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing Executive Order for contractors who may perform work on DEI contracts, available here . This article focuses on the Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Executive Order (the Order). PilieroMazza reviews the . . . Read More
Corporate Transparency Act, Part 8: Supreme Court Weighs In; Voluntary Reporting Remains
On January 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., which halted reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). However, a separate nationwide injunction issued in another CTA case [1] remains in effect. Thus, the CTA’s reporting requirements are still not in effect, though voluntary reporting remains. Please visit this link to access Parts 1-7 in this series. Despite the Supreme Court’s . . . Read More
Trump’s Executive Order Shuts Down Federal DEI Programs: Key Steps for Federal Contractors to Improve Cost Recovery
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing ( DEI Executive Order ), putting an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. Given the DEI Executive Order and the potential impact it may have on current federal contracts, PilieroMazza put together the following key steps for federal contractors who received and/or expect to receive termination-related directives from their customers, as well as ways to improve their ability to . . . Read More
FY2025 NDAA: Significant Impacts on Small and Large Defense Contractors
The Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025 NDAA), signed into law on December 23, 2024, has significant implications for defense acquisition and contracting. Each year, PilieroMazza highlights key changes that impact small and large defense contractors when considering opportunities and complying with current law. Background Congress introduces legislation every year to authorize funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and sets the policy landscape for the next fiscal year for defense contracting, acquisition, and procurement. In 2024, PilieroMazza reviewed the noteworthy provisions in the FY2024 NDAA , which included a prohibition on executive agencies . . . Read More
SBA Update: New Rule Makes Major Changes to Eligibility and Certification Requirements for HUBZone Program
As PilieroMazza noted recently here , on December 17, 2024, the Small Business Administration (SBA or the Agency) published a final rule that will make changes to its regulations for the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program and clarify certain program policies. This final rule goes into effect on January 16, 2025, and “will apply to existing contracts.” [1] Below are some key high-level takeaways on changes to the HUBZone Program. Attorneys in PilieroMazza ’s Government Contracts Group released a series of client alerts on different aspects of . . . Read More
Better Late Than Never: DOD Amends DFARS Implementing SBIR/STTR Data Rights, What it Means for Small Business
On December 18, 2024, the Defense Department (DOD) issued its Final Rule (Rule) amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the data rights portions of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program Policy Directive (the Policy Directive). The Rule is effective on January 17, 2025. To maximize protection of SBIR/STTR data rights, government contractors should: (1) carefully review their contracts and subcontracts to identify the applicable version of . . . Read More
SBA Update: SBA Clarifies Protégés’ Past Performance and/or Experience Exception
As PilieroMazza has been reporting, the Small Business Administration (SBA) recently issued a final rule updating and clarifying many regulations that impact small businesses. The revised regulations cover a wide range of programs, including the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program. One clarification addresses how agencies should credit the past performance and experience of protégés when bidding as part of a joint venture with its mentor. The rule seeks to clarify the extent to which an agency may require a protégé to submit past . . . Read More
Corporate Transparency Act, Part 7: Reporting Requirements Stayed (Again), Voluntary Reporting Allowed
In the latest twist regarding the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, on December 26, 2024, vacated its own stay of the nationwide preliminary injunction that halted the enforcement of the CTA. Thus, the CTA’s reporting requirements are not currently in effect, though voluntary reporting is allowed. See links here to Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , and Part 6 in this series. In response to the Fifth Circuit vacating its own stay, FinCEN issued guidance . . . Read More