DOGE has become a staple term in the news lately—the Trump Administration recently released an Executive Order (EO) implementing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Cost Efficiency Initiative. The order seeks to transform federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to ensure there’s transparency and accountability. This EO further establishes and adds structure to the first order published for DOGE, “Establishing and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency”, as well as proposes significant changes to the federal grant and contracting processes.

You probably clicked on this article because you’re worried about the future of your GSA Schedule contract, or maybe you’re looking to get a contract soon but aren’t sure if you should. We know the last month or so has been full of changes within the federal government, and you may have heard about contract terminations and federal workforce cuts. These things can’t be completely avoided, but what we need to focus on is the fact that the government is still and will always be buying. Priorities and spending habits will change, but the government can’t source the pens to sign those Executive Orders (EOs) from just anywhere. There are rules and regulations in place before agencies can acquire essential goods and services.

With the new administration in full swing now, we are all navigating a slew of changes from Executive Orders, to new regulations, and spending habits. One change we are seeing affecting contractors right away is the government terminating a specific task or delivery order through GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) and other contract vehicles, as part of the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) initiative to cut spending. Why does this happen and when could it happen to you? It’s important to plan for all different types of scenarios with your federal contracts so you aren’t caught off guard and know how to handle each situation. Here’s what you need to know about order terminations and settlements.

There are a lot of burning questions surrounding the buyout Trump offered to the federal workforce, like: how many employees will accept, or will we see major dips in retention? While there’s still more change to come, let’s focus on what we’ve seen with federal workforce attrition rates in the past, and what it looks like so far under the Trump Administration.

The push to favor domestic items over foreign materials and products dates back to the early 1930s when the Buy American Act (BAA) was established. Since then, presidential administrations from both parties have worked to strengthen and revise the act. The BAA is an important piece of legislation for GSA contractors because it impacts the purchasing habits of federal agencies.

A change in the presidential administration can bring shifts in federal priorities, policies, and budgets—all of which can impact federal government contractors. If you are keeping up with the news, you have seen articles cropping up every day about a new Executive Order (EO) and a change in spending or initiatives. Although it can seem overwhelming right now, this isn’t necessarily new. Every time an administration switches over, there will inevitably be a lot of updates as they work to modify the landscape to fit their vision. The question is: what are you doing to adapt to these changes and maximize your success as a contractor in this new administration?