QUICK HITS
8(a) firms must submit financial records: The request for 3 years of records is part of a larger, sweeping, government-wide audit.
Cybersecurity in focus: DOJ ramps up investigations into contractor practices; it has resulted in 15 settlements with gov’t contractors.
ICYMI Friday, OASIS+ enters PH2: Adding 5 service areas.
National Security Strategy: What does the USA want? What are our priorities?
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
Replicator evolves into DAWG, focusing on larger autonomous systems.
The DOD’s Replicator initiative has transitioned into the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG), shifting its focus from small drone swarms to larger, long-range unmanned systems for Pacific operations. The program includes wargaming and industry engagement to accelerate capability development.
Congress weighs $8B increase for Pentagon in defense bill.
Congress is considering adding $8 billion to the Pentagon’s budget beyond the current administration’s request in the FY2026 NDAA. The proposed increase would support priorities such as shipbuilding, munitions, and modernization efforts aimed at strengthening U.S. defense capabilities.
Hegseth unveils new defense strategy.
SecDef Hegseth outlined the upcoming National Defense Strategy, promising a roadmap that prioritizes homeland defense, deterring China in the Indo-Pacific, and boosting burden-sharing with allies.
ICYMI:
STRATCOM boss stresses deterrence in “tech-saturated” world.
USAF CISO: You’re thinking about network resilience all wrong.
[Opinion] The lopsided cost of Operation Southern Spear.
Defense Contract Awards
KBR secures $117M NAVAIR contract for F/A-18 FMS support.
Cherokee Strategic Solutions got a $17M ONR Contracts, Grants and Acquisition Department Support contract.
Northrop Grumman wins $200M Army contract for XM1211 High Explosive Proximity Rounds.
Damen wins bid for Navy-Marine Corps island-hopping vessel.
Follow the Defense Leaders
BAE promotes from within to fill a Chief Ethics Officer role.
Aretum appoints a former Tsymmetry CEO to be its Defense Sector Lead.
Defense Job Openings
NAVSEA needs a Manager.
USACE wants a Program Manager.
END OF YEAR RECAP
SEWP V: The 2025 Cosmic Heavyweights
The top SEWP V wins of 2025 remind us why this vehicle continues to dominate federal IT: big scope, big tech, big stakes. These awardees didn’t just win—they bent the gravitational field. Want to know who’s pulling the most mass this year? See the list here.
INTEL COMMUNITY
House Homeland leaders seek briefings from Apple, Google on ICE-tracking apps.
HHSC leaders are demanding briefings from Apple, Google, and ICE after reports revealed that ICE has been using commercial smartphone apps to track migrants and other individuals. Lawmakers say the practice raises major privacy and civil-liberty concerns, and they want tech companies to explain what data is being collected, how it's shared, and whether users are aware of the surveillance.
New national security strategy wants spy agencies to watch world supply chains.
The new National Security Strategy directs U.S. intelligence agencies to closely monitor global supply chains, treating them as critical national-security terrain vulnerable to foreign manipulation and cyber disruption. The policy calls for expanded threat assessments, deeper interagency coordination, and new tools to track risks across pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, food, and other strategic sectors.
ICYMI:
SDA is back on track to award satellite contracts after funds went to troop shutdown pay.
NRO extends key contracts, unveils new acquisition strategy.
Silobreaker and Carahsoft join forces to deliver AI-powered threat intelligence to public sector.
Light from satellites will ruin the majority of some space telescope images.
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CIVILIAN
HHS releases AI strategy, united by OneHHS approach.
HHS has released a unified AI strategy that brings all of its agencies under a single “OneHHS” approach, aiming to streamline governance, reduce duplication, and accelerate safe adoption of AI tools. The plan focuses on improving healthcare delivery, strengthening public-health surveillance, and modernizing internal operations while preventing bias, protecting privacy, and managing high-risk AI systems.
GSA AI chief says USAi has become like “code development” between agencies.
The GSA is testing a new “USAi Code” tool designed to help federal agencies quickly generate, review, and modernize software code using AI while maintaining strict security and compliance controls. Early pilots show the platform could speed up development cycles and reduce legacy-system backlogs, giving agencies a safer, governmentwide way to adopt AI coding assistants.
CISA launches platform to strengthen industry-government cyber collaboration.
CISA has introduced its Industry Engagement Platform to enhance collaboration between government and private sector on cybersecurity. The platform provides a centralized space for information sharing, technical discussions, and partnership opportunities aimed at protecting critical infrastructure from evolving cyber threats.
ICYMI:
At VA, cyber dominance is in, cyber compliance is out.
DOI is charging its bureaus a premium to subsume their employees.
FITARA and FedRAMP: Lawmakers push for modernization efforts.
CISA to sunset cyber incentive pay program for full transition to CTMS.
Civilian Contracts Awards
Peraton wins massive $12.8B DOT contract to modernize air traffic control systems; $20B more will be needed to finish the project.
KBR booked a $350M USGS EROS Center Technical Support Services deal.
Excella wins $7M OPM Human Capital Data Mgmt contract.
Kearney and Company booked a $3.5M DHS USCIS OCFO Audits contract.
Follow Civilian Leaders
Client Solution Architects (CSA) has a new CGO.
The OBBB Principal Executive Office welcomed its new Executive Director.
Civilian Job Openings
DOE is hiring a Supervisory Contract Specialist.
DOS is seeking a Program Manager.
M&A CORNER
Synergy ECP acquires NetServices to strengthen federal IT portfolio.
Synergy ECP has acquired NetServices, a recognized leader in cloud and cybersecurity solutions, to expand its capabilities in serving defense and civilian agencies. The acquisition enhances Synergy’s position in delivering secure, innovative IT solutions across the federal market.
Red River buys Invictus to expand cyber capabilities.
Red River has acquired Invictus, a move that expands the company’s capabilities in cybersecurity, intelligence support, and IT modernization. The deal strengthens Red River’s position in national security markets by adding classified cyber operations, secure engineering, and mission-focused modernization services.
ICYMI:
BAE Systems, Inc. introduces OneArc, its new commercial defense tech biz.
Core4ce, InfoBase partner up to launch CrossSight, a due dilligence platform.
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
TEMPO: FDA unveils digital health pilot program. It aims to expand access to select digital health devices while prioritizing patient safety. SOURCE↗︎
A newly-discovered black snake species gets named: Lycodon irwini, a wolf snake, is named after the late Steve Irwin. SOURCE↗︎
Here are the jobs AI can’t replace—for now. Let’s take a peek at the future of work. SOURCE↗︎
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