"FAR Council releases changes to 6 sections of acquisition regulation," GovExec

The FAR Council has announced significant changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, aiming to streamline government procurement processes. With the removal of more than 500 requirements and plans for further deregulation, the initiative seeks to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and bolster competition within the contractor community.

• The FAR Council has eliminated 500 requirements for agencies and contractors, with expectations to remove over 500 more, reflecting a broader deregulatory effort initiated by the Trump administration.
• Key updates include streamlined commercial acquisition processes, allowing agencies to procure goods as the commercial marketplace does, which reduces unnecessary regulatory complexities.
• The initiative aims to bolster small businesses by removing non-value-added burdens that disproportionately affect them compared to larger corporations, while also addressing the need for a cultural shift in government contracting practices.

"Air Force chief announces he's leaving post early," Politico

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin's unexpected retirement announcement has raised eyebrows. Allvin, who has been a strong advocate for military reforms under President Donald Trump, will step down in November, just halfway through his term.

• Gen. David Allvin's surprise retirement announcement comes after only two years in office, making it the shortest tenure for an Air Force chief in over three decades, following the precedent set by Gen. Michael Dugan in 1990.
• Allvin has been a vocal supporter of President Trump’s military reforms, which focus on modernization and workforce reduction; however, the reasons for his early departure remain unspecified.
• His announcement adds to a pattern of high-level military departures under Trump, with four service chiefs having left since his presidency began, including dismissals of notable leaders like Adm. Linda Fagan and Gen. C.Q. Brown.

“Amid IRS personnel shakeup, agency stalled for months on customer service strategy,” Federal News Network

The IRS has stalled for months on its customer service strategy amid significant personnel changes.

• The IRS has not implemented its “2029+” modernization strategy, submitted on 9 May 2025, which aims to transform the agency into a more efficient and tech-enabled institution.
• Former director April Harding expressed concerns over the IRS's lack of a meaningful strategy and leadership willing to make transformative decisions, highlighting ongoing systemic issues.
• Due to significant workforce cuts (25 percent reduction), the IRS may only be able to answer about 16 percent of phone calls during the upcoming filing season without hiring additional staff, raising doubts about its service capabilities.

"Navy to cut at least a third of its civilian public-affairs staff," Defense One

The Navy plans to reduce its civilian public affairs staff by at least 35 percent, following a directive from Navy Secretary John Phelan. This decision aims to streamline operations and eliminate redundancy while centralizing hiring and contracting processes.

• The Navy's chief of information office has been tasked with delivering a plan to cut at least 35 percent of its civilian public affairs staff, centralizing hiring processes to improve efficiency and reduce duplicative roles.
• This restructuring follows a review that revealed the Navy lacks a unified communications strategy, resulting in inefficient use of taxpayer funds and redundant public affairs strategies.
• The initiative is part of a larger trend within the DOD to reduce civilian staffing levels, with the current administration aiming to cut thousands of civilian positions as part of budgetary constraints and efficiency measures.