During his first eight weeks in office, President Trump has taken numerous executive actions likely to impact federal government contractors and grant recipients. This timeline highlights key developments pertaining to recent executive orders (“EOs”) and other executive actions issued by the second Trump administration. It focuses on issues most relevant to federal contractors and grant
The Trump Tariffs and Federal Contractors: In These Taxing Times, Contractors Have a Duty To Know These Five Things
As reported and analyzed in recent posts, the Trump administration has begun implementing a number of new tariffs, including three sets of country-based tariffs (China, Canada, and Mexico) and Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum. We expect further announcements of reciprocal tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, and other tariffs on
Timeline of Key Developments Related to Recent Executive Actions as of March 12, 2025
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, and highlighted many of the actions his administration has taken during his first six weeks in office. This timeline highlights key developments pertaining to recent executive orders (“EOs”) and other executive actions issued by the second Trump administration. It focuses on issues
Preparing Now for Expected Congressional Oversight: Newly Released Oversight Plans Signal Investigations of Private Parties
Recently, three key investigative committees of the House of Representatives—the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Energy and Commerce Committee—each adopted their respective committee’s oversight plan for the new Congress, offering a window into the committees’ investigative priorities for the next two years. The newly adopted oversight plans provide insights
LDA’s Registration Thresholds Increase for Lobbyist Employers and Lobbying Firms
Under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”), an organization or lobbying firm must register if it employs an individual who meets the definition of a “lobbyist” and if its total expenses or income for lobbying activities meet certain monetary thresholds. Usually, the two non-monetary thresholds determining when an individual becomes a “lobbyist,” discussed below, are
Tax-Exempt Organizations: Understanding Executive and Congressional Enforcement Priorities
Tax-exempt organizations, including private foundations and other types of nonprofits associated with high-net worth individuals, have been subject to increasing investigative scrutiny in recent years. Last Congress, for example, the House Judiciary Committee and several other committees issued document requests to multiple nonprofit organizations, and in this Congress the trend is likely to continue. The current administration
Timeline of Key Developments Related to Recent Executive Actions as of March 5, 2025
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, and highlighted many of the actions his administration has taken during his first six weeks in office. This timeline highlights key developments pertaining to recent executive orders (“EOs”) and other executive actions issued by the second Trump administration. It focuses on issues
January and February 2025 Cybersecurity Developments Under the Biden and Trump Administrations
This is the first in a new series of Covington blogs on cybersecurity policies, executive orders, and other actions of the new Trump Administration. This blog describes key cybersecurity developments that took place in January and February 2025. Below, we outline three developments affecting cybersecurity in January and February 2025, including one from the Biden
Fifth Circuit Adds New Wrinkle to Ongoing Fight Over Federal Contract Worker Minimum Wage Requirement
Earlier this month, the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of a Biden administration order raising the minimum wage of many types of federal contract workers. The executive order remains subject to litigation (in both the Fifth Circuit and elsewhere), but is currently effective throughout the country, with a narrow exception for certain state agencies.
President
Covington Submits Supreme Court Amicus Curiae Brief Addressing Derivative Sovereign Immunity for Government Contractors
On behalf of the Professional Services Council (PSC), this past week Covington filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the petitioner in The GEO Group, Inc. v. Menocal (No. 24-758). The brief urges the Court to grant certiorari and, ultimately, to hold that government contractors are entitled to immediately appeal