On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued a broad executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (the “Order”), which among other things, rescinds Executive Order (“EO”) 11246. EO 11246 is the underpinning for government contractor race and sex affirmative action program requirements. The order also
What’s Next for OFCCP Under The Second Trump Term?
With President Trump’s second administration set to begin on January 20, 2025, federal contractors and subcontractors are anxiously awaiting what he might do with respect to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) and the employment obligations imposed on federal government contractors. While the Trump transition team has not…
FAR Council Withdraws Proposed Contractor Pay Inquiry and Transparency Rule
Effective as of January 8, 2025, the FAR Council has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have limited federal contractors from seeking and considering information about job applicants’ compensation history and required contractors to disclose salary ranges in job postings.
The announcement states that “in light of the limited time…
Potential Government Shutdown – What Every Federal Contractor Needs to Know
We appear to be on the precipice of another federal government shutdown. Absent a political compromise, the federal government’s funding will run out on December 21, 2024. During previous government shutdowns, government agencies and departments issued stop-work orders, grinding work on government projects and contracts to a halt. Contractors were…
OFCCP Releases List of Contractors Selected For Audit – Is Your Company On It?
On November 20, 2024, OFCCP announced a new Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (CSAL) for supply and service contractors. The new list consists of 2,000 federal contractors and subcontractors selected for a Compliance Evaluation, Corporate Management Compliance Evaluation, Functional Affirmative Action Program Evaluation, or University Evaluation.
The list merely notifies contractors…
Texas District Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Halting OFCCP Administrative Proceeding
On October 30, 2024, the District Court for the Southern District of Texas preliminarily enjoined the Department of Labor (“DOL”), the Secretary of Labor, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”), and the presiding Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) from proceeding with an administrative case against ABM Industry Groups, LLC. …
OFCCP Publishes Notice of NEW FOIA Request and Provides Opportunity for Contractors to Object to Release of Their 2021 EEO-1 Type 2 Reports
On October 28, 2024, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) published a notice in the Federal Register informing federal contractors that the agency has received two new Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests from the University of Utah and a non-profit organization named “As You Sow” (the “Requests”).…
United States Government Accountability Office Finds Federal Contracting Rules do not Prohibit Labor Harmony Agreement Requirements
In a decision issued on September 16, 2024, the United States Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) ruled that federal contracting rules do not prohibit government agencies from requiring contractors to enter into labor harmony agreements.
In 2022, Maximus Federal Services, Inc. (“Maximus”), won a contract with the Department of Health and…
OFCCP Issues Directive Updating Expedited Conciliation Procedures
On July 26, 2024, OFCCP published Directive 2024-01: Expedited Conciliation Procedures (the “Directive”). The Directive is intended to “outline updated procedures for an expedited conciliation option, giving contractors and the agency flexibility in the resolution of violations.”
Background
Directive 2024-01 rescinds and replaces DIR 2019-02, Early Resolution Procedures, which established…
FAR Council Proposes Rule Requiring Contractors to Identify Subcontractors and Report Subcontractors’ Executive Compensation Information
On May 24, 2024, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) Council published a Notice and request for comments for 9000-0177, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-tier Subcontract Awards.
If approved, the new FAR will require contractors to: (1) publicly report certain information on their first tier subcontractors; and (2) report compensation information…