In This Story
Fed Gov Today, Francis Rose, Host, Podcast, July 9, 2025
Dr. Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University & Former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, offers a candid and data-driven look at the current state of innovation across the federal government. With a background in both academia and senior leadership at the Department of Defense, McGinn brings unique insight into how the government is leveraging its power—not just to regulate, but to actively shape—its industrial base.
One of the most striking points McGinn makes is the dramatic increase in the use of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contracts. According to new research from the Baroni Center, OTA spending in the Department of Defense is up 220% since 2018. Agencies across government are also embracing similar models to push innovation forward. But while the numbers are promising, McGinn is quick to point out that measuring the actual impact of these efforts is a major challenge.
Download the Baroni Center Report: 2025 Government Contracting Trends and Performance Index.