On June 6, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (“Sustaining Select Efforts to Strengthen the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Amending Executive Order 13694 and Executive Order 14144”) (the “Order”) that modifies certain initiatives in prior Executive Orders issued by
Latest from Inside Government Contracts
CISA Releases AI Data Security Guidance
On May 22, 2025, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (“CISA”), which sits within the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) released guidance for AI system operators regarding managing data security risks. The associated press release explains that the guidance provides
Digital Force Technologies, Inc.: A “SBIR-Derived Component” Can Be Sufficient For SBIR Phase III
In a recent bid protest decision— Digital Force Technologies, Inc., B-423319 (May 19, 2025), the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) denied a protest of a Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) program Phase III sole source solicitation issued by the Air
GAO: DCAA Built a Valuable Bench of Independent Public Accountants, Now What?
The Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) released a report on the Defense Contract Audit Agency’s (“DCAA”) past and future use of private-sector, independent public accountants to augment its auditor workforce. The initiative—approved under Section 803 of the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2018
Justice Department Establishes Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, Using False Claims Act to Target DEI
On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum establishing a DOJ Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. The Initiative will use the False Claims Act (“FCA”) to “investigate and . . . pursue claims against any recipient of
April 2025 Cybersecurity Developments Under the Trump Administration
This is the third blog in a series of Covington blogs on cybersecurity policies, executive orders (“EOs”), and other actions of the new Trump Administration. This blog describes key cybersecurity developments that took place in April 2025.
NIST Publishes Initial
April 2025 AI Developments Under the Trump Administration
This is part of an ongoing series of Covington blogs on the AI policies, executive orders, and other actions of the Trump Administration. This blog describes AI actions taken by the Trump Administration in April 2025, and prior articles in
Reintroduced SHIPS Act Signals Continued Momentum for Domestic Maritime Investment
On April 20th, a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers, including Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) in the Senate and Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Representative Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) in the House, reintroduced the Shipbuilding and Harbor
ROUTERS Act on the Horizon: U.S. House Passes New Legislation
Early Signs of Progress in the “Revolutionary FAR Overhaul”
On Friday, May 2, the U.S. government announced further steps in its much-discussed plan to re-write the FAR by establishing a “Revolutionary FAR Overhaul” (“RFO”) website on Acquisition.gov, issuing written guidance to federal agencies, and releasing proposed revisions to FAR