Horizon cutting-room links: 17 September 2025

"Democrats oppose a stopgap bill after letting one go ahead in March," New York Times

Top Democrats in Congress have announced their opposition to the Republicans' proposed stopgap spending bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown by the end of September. This comes in response to rising anger among Democrats towards President Trump's policies and a desire to avoid repeating mistakes made earlier this year when a similar bill was allowed to advance.

• Democrats are united against the proposed spending bill, citing the need for concessions from Republicans on health care, particularly the extension of Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year.
• The opposition comes after backlash from party activists over a previous decision to allow a similar stopgap measure to pass, which many viewed as ceding power to the Trump administration.
• Speaker Mike Johnson's temporary spending bill would maintain funding at current levels while increasing security spending for federal officials, setting the stage for a potential government shutdown if a consensus cannot be reached.

“GSA’s Allen Eyes Fall Rollout for FAR Rulemaking,” Federal News Network

GSA is set to roll out significant updates to the FAR this fall, following an executive order aimed at streamlining procurement processes. As part of ongoing reforms, the administration plans to simplify regulations and engage industry stakeholders in the formal rulemaking process, marking a pivotal shift in federal acquisition policy.

• Larry Allen, the associate administrator for GSA’s Office of Government-wide Policy, announced that recent FAR revisions aim to return the regulations to their statutory roots by removing unnecessary provisions and simplifying language for better usability.
• The FAR Council has already implemented class deviations to prioritize governmentwide contracts and simplify commercial acquisitions, with the ambition of enacting these changes before the end of the fiscal year.
• Allen emphasized that the FAR overhaul is just the first phase of reform, which will include revising agency-specific FAR supplements to ensure consistency across all federal procurement processes, while also focusing on training the acquisition workforce to adapt to these new standards.

"Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Nominee Vows to Reform Procurement Requirements Process," Defense One

In his confirmation hearing, Marine Gen. Christopher Mahoney, the presumptive next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed his commitment to overhaul the Pentagon's procurement process, aiming to significantly reduce the time it takes to validate requirements for new programs. With current delays hampering military readiness, Mahoney's reforms aim to streamline bureaucracy and adapt to rapidly evolving technology and threats.

• The Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) is currently plagued by inefficiencies, taking as long as 800 days to finalize approval for new procurement programs, far exceeding the intended 100-day maximum.
• Mahoney plans to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and focus JROC’s efforts on designing future capabilities rather than reviewing paperwork, as highlighted in the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
• A recent Pentagon report recommends granting the DOD more budgetary flexibility, allowing for the reallocation of larger sums within procurement budgets, which could enhance responsiveness to shifting priorities.

"South Korea Probes Allegations of Human-Rights Violations Tied to Hyundai Raid," Wall Street Journal

South Korea is investigating potential human-rights violations against its citizens following a US immigration raid at a Hyundai construction site in Georgia. The incident has led to significant public outrage in South Korea, especially after reports of mistreatment among those detained, raising concerns about US-South Korean relations, particularly regarding investment and trade.

• South Korea's Foreign Ministry is coordinating with the Justice Ministry to investigate alleged mistreatment of over 300 Korean workers, who reported conditions such as moldy beds and lack of interpreters during their detention.
• The recent raid, which resulted in the arrest of approximately 475 workers, is the largest single-site immigration raid conducted by ICE.
• Nearly 60 percent of South Koreans view the raid as excessive, reflecting growing disappointment with the US government and its handling of the situation, which has strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.