Photo of Cherylyn Harley LeBon

Co-Chair of Cohen Seglias’ Government Contracting Group, Cherylyn is an attorney and strategic advisor with more than 25 years of leadership experience in Washington, DC and internationally. She focuses her practice on government contracts and corporate matters, guiding clients through complex regulatory landscapes and business challenges.

On April 15, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14275 and directed wide-sweeping revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to make the federal procurement process more efficient. As discussed in our earlier client alert, “Revolutionary Changes Ahead: Understanding the Overhaul of Federal Procurement Regulations,” this Executive Order marked the beginning of a comprehensive effort to streamline and deregulate the FAR. In line with this directive, on May 2, 2025, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFFP) published the first wave of proposed revisions, focusing on FAR Part 1 (Federal Acquisition Regulations System), Part 34 (Major System Acquisition), and Part 52 (Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses).

OFFP’s issuance of FAR rewrites coincides with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies announcing OFFP’s lead in a revolutionary overhaul of the FAR. On the same day, the FAR Council also issued Deviation Guidance regarding the FAR’s overhaul. The FAR Council advised agencies to issue agency-specific deviations implementing the FAR Council’s deregulated coverage within 30 days after the release of the model deviation text. The memorandum explains that while the FAR Council intends to begin formal rulemaking regarding the new proposed language, the OMB encourages agencies to make the deviated FAR language effective immediately until the new FAR language becomes final.Continue Reading The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul: What Federal Contractors Need to Know

The Trump administration recently announced three significant initiatives to reshape the federal procurement landscape. These include three new executive orders aimed at modernizing defense acquisitions, reforming foreign defense sales, and—perhaps most consequential—restoring common sense to federal procurement practices.

  1. Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base (April 9, 2025)
  2. Reforming Foreign Defense Sales to Improve Speed and Accountability (April 9, 2025)
  3. Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement (April 15, 2025)

Continue Reading Revolutionary Changes Ahead: Understanding the Overhaul of Federal Procurement Regulations