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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NONPROFIT AND TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS
Nonprofits Celebrate PilieroMazza’s Kristen Centre for Transformative Legal Support, PilieroMazza News, Kristen Centre
Pro Bono Partnership (PBP) has recognized PilieroMazza Partner Kristen Centre for her outstanding contributions to nonprofit organizations by offering vital, pro bono legal support on matters ranging from corporate governance, contract review, and complex organizational transitions. As one of PBP’s most dedicated and trusted volunteers, Kristen exemplifies the organization’s spirit of service and leadership by generously offering her time to support nonprofit clients across a wide spectrum of legal needs. Read more here.
Lawmakers to Finalize NDAA by Week’s End, Bring the Bill to the Floor in Early December, Federal News Network
House and Senate negotiators are racing to finalize the 2026 defense policy bill by the end of the week, with all House and Senate Armed Services Committee disputes resolved and only a few Senate jurisdictional details still holding the legislation’s advancement to the House floor in early December. Read more here.
FAR Part 19 Deviations Update
The number of agencies that have issued deviations to FAR Part 19 has grown to twelve. They are: Udall Foundation, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Department of Transportation, Department of Homeland Security, US Department of Agriculture, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and General Services Administration. Each deviation is available here.
Trump Signs Executive Order for AI Project Called Genesis Mission to Boost Scientific Discoveries, Federal News Network
President Donald Trump is directing the federal government to combine efforts with tech companies and universities to convert government data into scientific discoveries, acting on his push to make artificial intelligence the engine of the nation’s economic future. Trump unveiled the “Genesis Mission” as part of an executive order he signed Monday that directs the Department of Energy and national labs to build a digital platform to concentrate the nation’s scientific data in one place. Read more here.
Democrats Try Again to Reestablish Legal Deference to Agencies On Regulations, Government Executive
Congressional Democrats on Wednesday brought back legislation to respond to President Donald Trump’s deregulatory agenda and reduce the influence of private companies in the rulemaking process. The Experts Protect Effective Rules, Transparency and Stability (EXPERTS) Act (H.R. 6145) would codify the “Chevron deference,” a decades-old precedent the Supreme Court overturned in 2024 that directed judges to defer to federal agencies when interpreting ambiguous provisions of law. Read more here.
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report: Chief Information Officer (CIO) Open Recommendations: Small Business Administration
On November 18, GAO released a report to address CIO open recommendations that warrant the attention of agency CIOs because their implementation could significantly improve government IT operations by securing IT systems, identifying cost savings, improving major government programs, eliminating mismanagement of IT programs and processes, or ensuring that IT programs comply with laws, among others. Read more here.
Department of Defense (DOD) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Proposed Rule: Definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS)
On November 20, DOD and EPA published a proposed rule and request for comments regarding revising the regulations defining the scope of waters federally covered under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, also known as the Clean Water Act, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. With this proposed rule, the agencies intend to provide greater regulatory certainty and increase Clean Water Act program predictability and consistency by clarifying the definition of “waters of the United States.” This proposed rule is also intended to implement the overall objective of the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the quality of the Nation’s waters while respecting State and Tribal authority over their own land and water resources. The rule is available here. Comments close January 5, 2026.
General Services Administration (GSA) News Release: GSA & NSF Announce NSF Headquarters Relocation to Modern, Right-Sized, and Mission-Ready Space
On November 14, GSA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the execution of a lease for the new NSF headquarters. Following a publicly available request for interest from private-sector lessors, the new space located at the Randolph Building, 401 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA, will support NSF employees in advancing the agency’s vital mission, while achieving significant cost savings for hardworking taxpayers. Read more here.
Why America Needs the GAO: DOGE Done Right, Government Executive
The legacy of DOGE is unclear, but the federal government already has a proven entity when it comes to finding cost savings and an efficiency multiplier. Read more here.
Upcoming Government Contract Presentations
TRAINING: Joint Venture and Mentor-Protégé Bidding Strategies, December 10, 2025, Peter B. Ford, Meghan F. Leemon
WEBINAR: Government Contractors and Tariff Challenges: Strategies for Success, December 10, 2025, Jacqueline K. Unger
WEBINAR: Small Business Contracting & Subcontracting, December 16, 2025, Meghan F. Leemon
TRAINING: Mergers & Acquisitions in Government Contracting: Novations and Recertification, January 15, 2026, Daniel Figuenick, III
WEBINAR: Nuts, Bolts, and Beyond: To Be a Government Contractor, January 15, 2026, Eric Valle
CONFERENCE: Warfighting at Warp Speed: Why Defense Contractors Must Track the DOW’s Acquisition Overhaul, January 20, 2026, Josie Farinelli
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION / CORPORATE & ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE
Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle, Part 7: Deadlock, Dissolution, and Business Break-ups. PilieroMazza Blog, Todd M. Reinecker, Abigail “Abby” L. Baker, Staci C. Alexander, Matthew Healy, Kirby Rousseau
In the lifecycle of a closely held company—whether a limited liability company, a small corporation, or a joint-venture partnership—there are critical transitions that expose a business and its owners to considerable litigation risk. Among the most challenging are deadlocks among owners and the dissolution or break-up of the company. In this seventh installment of PilieroMazza’s blog series, “Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle,” we discuss steps businesses should take now to avoid costly stakeholder deadlocks and explore how to manage associated litigation risks with detailed governance documents and proactive planning. Read more here.
Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act Turns Two: Key Takeaways for Employers, PilieroMazza Blog, Sarah L. Nash, Sara Ryan
The Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act (PWFA) became effective on June 27, 2023. Two years later, we’re seeing PWFA cases make their way through the courts. Employers need a firm grasp of the PWFA to support pregnant employees appropriately while steering the company away from preventable compliance missteps and costly legal fallout. Read more here.
BGOV Bill Analysis: Repeal Public Sector Bargaining Ban, Bloomberg Government
President Donald Trump’s March 27 executive order barring federal workers at more than 40 agencies and subagencies from exercising their collective bargaining rights would be nullified under a House proposal. The House will consider a resolution (H. Res. 432) that would launch a vote on an underlying bill (H.R. 2550) to repeal Trump’s order and force the administration to honor union contracts in place before the executive order was signed. Read more here (subscription required).
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Press Release: EEOC Releases New and Updated Educational Materials on National Origin Discrimination
On November 19, EEOC released new and updated educational materials regarding national origin discrimination. The agency issued a one-page technical assistance document, “Discrimination Against American Workers Is Against The Law,” and updated its national origin discrimination landing page with additional information for employers regarding national origin discrimination in the workplace and how individuals can act if they believe their rights have been violated. Read more here.
Domestic Violence Bias Claims Free Worker from Arbitration Pact, Bloomberg Law
API Group Life Safety USA LLC must face an employee’s discrimination claims in court because allegations it mishandled her status as a sexual violence victim triggered an arbitration opt-out law, a Portland federal judge ruled. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act applies to Nicole Polen’s lawsuit even though she doesn’t assert she was sexually harassed or assaulted in the workplace or that API caused sexual harassment or an assault to occur, the US District Court for the District of Oregon said. It’s enough under the 2022 #MeToo-inspired law that Polen pointed to her status as a victim of domestic violence and that she made API aware of it. Read more here (subscription required).
EEOC Taps Ex-Labor Department Official as Acting General Counsel, Bloomberg Government
The Trump appointee who oversaw the gutting of the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is now serving as acting general counsel of the EEOC, according to the commission’s website. Read more here (subscription required).
Upcoming Labor & Employment Presentations
TRAINING: Labor Rules & Regulations: Federal Market Compliance, December 10, 2025, Sarah L. Nash
CONFERENCE: 2026 Employment Law Rescue Guide for Contractors, January 28, 2026, Nichole D. Atallah
OMB Issues New Drone Procurement Security Framework, Law360
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell T. Vought has outlined a new framework for government procurement of drones, telling federal agencies that funds should go toward boosting domestic manufacturing and warning against cybersecurity threats posed by purchasing foreign-manufactured drones. Read more here (subscription required).
Judge Blocks IRS from Sharing Data with DHS for Immigration Enforcement, The Washington Post
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Internal Revenue Service from sharing data with immigration enforcement officials, ruling that the tax agency violated federal law and the rights of tens of thousands of individuals in its attempt to participate in President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. Read more here.
FALSE CLAIMS ACT / AUDITS & INVESTIGATIONS
Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Fall 2025 Semiannual Report to Congress
On November 25, the SBA OIG released its Fall 2025 Semiannual Report to Congress. From April through September 2025, OIG issued 15 reports with 52 recommendations to improve SBA operations and reduce fraud and unnecessary losses in agency programs. OIG investigations resulted in 128 indictments and 91 convictions. Overall, OIG’s investigations and audit work reported total dollar accomplishments of $2.09 billion. The full report is available here.
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