The Weekly Update recaps recent legislative and regulatory updates affecting
government contractors and commercial businesses.
If you have questions concerning this content, please email marketing@pilieromazza.com.
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Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report: Whistleblowers, VA Should Assess Data and Monitor Settlement Agreements to Better Ensure Protections
On July 31, GAO released a report reviewing the characteristics of VA whistleblower retaliation investigations and VA’s process for settling whistleblower retaliation claims. This report examines (1) the number, length, and outcomes of VA whistleblower retaliation cases; (2) typical components of VA settlement agreements; and (3) whether VA monitors the implementation of settlement agreements. Read more here.
Small Business Administration (SBA) News Release: SBA Issues Letter of Warning to Federal Contracting Officers
On July 29, SBA announced that it issued a formal letter to federal contracting officers intended to strengthen oversight of the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program and reinforce the officers’ legal responsibility to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse. As part of the full-scale audit of the 8(a) Business Development Program, the SBA is formally directing all contracting officials involved in 8(a) procurement to fulfill their obligation to report potential misconduct, including entities that knowingly submit false information, conceal disqualifying facts, or other abuse. Read more here.
Small Business Administration (SBA) News Release: SBA Rescinds USAID Contracting Authority Following Massive Bribery Scandal
On July 30, SBA announced its decision to rescind the independent 8(a) contracting authority of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The decision comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) uncovered a massive $550 million bribery scandal involving a USAID contracting officer and two 8(a) contractors. Last fiscal year, USAID obligated $3.6 billion through SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. Read more here.
Upcoming Government Contract Presentations
PM WEBINAR: Joint Venture Eligibility: Refresher on Requirements for Government Contractors, August 13, 2025, Meghan F. Leemon
TRAINING: Navigating the FAR/DFARS: The Most Confusing and Little-Known Clauses, August 13, 2025, Eric Valle, Kristine “Krissy” Crallé
PM WEBINAR: Key Insights for GSA Schedule Contracting, August 26, 2025, Jon Williams, Lauren Brier
PM WEBINAR: How the Boards of Contract Appeals Work—And Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line, September 9, 2025, Lauren Brier, Josie Farinelli
TRAINING: Unlocking the Secrets of Debriefings, Government Evaluation of Proposals and Protests, September 11, 2025, Katherine B. Burrows, Eric Valle
PM WEBINAR: The Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act: What Government Contractors Need to Know, September 17, 2025, Jacqueline K. Unger, Abigail “Abby” Finan
TRAINING: Joint Venture and Mentor-Protege Bidding Strategies, October 2, 2025, Peter B. Ford, Meghan F. Leemon
PM WEBINAR: Managing the Financial Impact of Tariffs on Your Government Contract, October 7, 2025, Jacqueline K. Unger, Ryan Boonstra
PM WEBINAR: Avoiding Common Teaming and Subcontracting Pitfalls, October 16, 2025, Jon Williams
TRAINING: Past Performance: How to Use Yours, Benefit from Others’, and Defend It from Attacks, October 28, 2025, Daniel Figuenick, III, Abigail “Abby” Finan
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Memorandum: Template for Administrative Leave Policies
On July 30, OPM released a memorandum providing a template for government-wide administrative leave policies. The template includes several new guidelines in addition to the existing regulatory guidelines. Read more here.
Department of Labor (DOL) News Release: DOL Solicits Public Input on Ways to Help Smaller Employers Improve Retirement Plan Outcomes for Workers
On July 28, DOL announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting public input on how to help smaller employers that want to offer retirement benefits choose a high-quality, low-cost option known as a pooled employer plan. Read more here.
Agency Layoffs Do Not Constitute Illegal Impoundments, GAO Rules, Government Executive
Federal agencies are not inherently violating spending laws by laying off employees for budgetary savings, the government’s top watchdog has ruled, clearing the Trump administration of one potential legal pitfall as it continues to scale back the federal workforce. RIFs are not themselves violations of federal spending law, watchdog says, though the administration is violating the law in other ways. Read more here.
Senate Panel Approves Legislation to Grow Employee Ownership, Bloomberg Government
Legislation setting uniform employee stock ownership plan valuation standards and creating a new office for worker-ownership issues cleared a Senate labor committee as federal lawmakers show growing interest in ESOPs. Read more here (subscription required).
Upcoming Labor & Employment Presentations
PM WEBINAR: Multijurisdictional Employers, Part 3: Best Practices for Paid Sick Leave and Family Leave, September 4, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah, Sara N. Strosser
CONFERENCE: Impact of the Trump Administration on Government Contracts, September 12, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah
TRAINING: Labor Rules & Regulations: Federal Market Compliance, October 22, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION / CORPORATE & ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE
Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle, Part 6: Minority Stakeholder Interests and Oppression, PilieroMazza Blog, Todd M. Reinecker, Abigail “Abby” L. Baker, Mark F. Rosenow, Kirby Rousseau, Nathan Jahnigen
There is a common misconception that ownership equals control. But in many businesses—especially those participating in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) programs—the reality is far more complex. As companies grow, take on investment, or bring in new members, questions of ownership rights, decision-making authority, and fiduciary duties become increasingly fraught. For minority stakeholders, the risk of being sidelined is real. And for majority owners, mismanaging that balance can trigger litigation or worse, including the loss of small business program eligibility. In this sixth installment of PilieroMazza’s blog series, “Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle,” we examine how to manage risk associated with minority stakeholder interests, including claims of oppression, loss of control in SBA small business programs, and best practices for governing stakeholder relationships. Read more here.
Cy Alba and Lauren Brier Discuss Overcoming Legal Challenges for VOSB Contractors Impacted by Executive Orders, PilieroMazza News, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV, Lauren Brier
Government contractors are navigating a range of legal and compliance challenges in the wake of recent executive orders issued by the Trump administration. In this timely training session hosted by the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC), Marie Myszkier is joined by PilieroMazza attorneys Cy Alba and Lauren Brier, who address how veteran-owned small businesses can overcome legal challenges related to the EOs. Click here to listen.