DOGE Contracts Center for Government Contracting

Washington Technology, Nick Wakeman, Editor-in-Chief, August 21, 2025

Washington Technology, Ross Wilkers, Senior Staff Reporter

Agencies can call, and are calling, contractors back to work after telling them their services are no longer required.

A paradigm shift is underway in how federal agencies define success—and it’s reshaping how they engage with contractors. Gabrielle Rivera, Vice President at Maximus, joined Fed Gov Today to discuss how the shift from measuring outputs to outcomes is transforming government operations and procurement strategies.

With the risk of a government shutdown temporarily averted, agencies across the federal government now face a different kind of challenge: navigating the constraints of a full-year continuing resolution (CR) that leaves little room for budget maneuvering. Though funding has been locked in through September 30, 2025, the CR limits agencies to prior-year funding levels and restricts their ability to pursue new initiatives. Tom Harker, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller, and Dave Mader, former Controller at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and current Director at the Partnership for Public Service, joined Francis Rose on Fed Gov Today to examine the implications.

Government contracts are essential to federal operations, but in times of budget adjustments, policy shifts, or changing priorities, agencies may need to terminate contracts—sometimes in large numbers. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced plans to cancel nearly 600 contracts, saving the agency over $900 million, a move that raises questions about how agencies manage contract terminations and how vendors can prepare.

"We're sitting at $19 billion in terminated grant programs, terminated grants program funding, that's over 40% of the market today," said Zoe Kendall.

“The memo provides a means for DoD leaders to more closely scrutinize our requirements for the covered contracts listed in the memo,” John Tenaglia said.

"OTAs were originally designed to procure things like [R&D] or prototypes. What I'm seeing now is OTAs...not in those categories at all," said Barbara Kinosky.

GSA still must answer several questions before it can take over the management of NASA, NITAAC IT GWACs.