Today is Wednesday, 5 March 2025. Federal agencies in the Washington, DC area are Open. Employees are expected to begin the workday on time. Normal operating procedures are in effect. Scattered rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 12 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

The Horizon has covered a ton of news affecting government contracting and employment since Monday. Catch up here.

Govcon

"How Federal Workers Are Dealing With the $1 Limit on Their Corporate Cards," the Wall Street Journal

"President Trump signed an executive order last week that called for the prohibition of nonessential travel alongside the credit-card freeze. The General Services Administration said in a Feb. 22 email, which was viewed by The Wall Street Journal, that all government purchase and travel cards would carry spend thresholds of $1, with limited exceptions."

"Managers can seek approval for certain exemptions, though it wasn’t clear how widespread they would be. Government lawyers have been told that travel related to litigation, such as oral arguments, court cases and arbitrations, are considered “mission critical.” 

"Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Stop Offensive Cyberoperations Against Russia," New York Times

"Mr. Hegseth’s instructions, part of a larger re-evaluation of all operations against Russia, have not been publicly explained. ... Still, retaining access to major Russian networks for espionage purposes is critical to understanding Mr. Putin’s intentions as he enters negotiations, and to tracking the arguments within Russia about what conditions to insist upon and what could be given up."

"The United States has, until now, been central in helping European nations fight back, often in covert cyberoperations, but that cooperation could now be in jeopardy. ... Many of those operations are run out of Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters — the storied intelligence agency that broke the Enigma codes in World War II — and to some extent by Canada. It is possible they will continue that work, while the United States focuses on China, its most sophisticated adversary in cyberspace."

"Katie Arrington named acting Pentagon CIO," Defense Scoop

"Katie Arrington was announced Monday as the Pentagon’s official 'Performing the Duties of the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer.'

"The DOD Office of the CIO announced the move by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to place Arrington as the acting CIO in a post on LinkedIn. The post also confirmed that Leslie Beavers, who had been acting CIO since John Sherman left the role last June, will return to her primary role as principal deputy CIO."

"Drones Now Rule the Battlefield in the Ukraine-Russia War," the Times

"Drones, not the big, heavy artillery that the war was once known for, inflict about 70 percent of all Russian and Ukrainian casualties, said Roman Kostenko, the chairman of the defense and intelligence committee in Ukraine’s Parliament. In some battles, they cause even more — up to 80 percent of deaths and injuries, commanders say."

"The war has killed and wounded more than a million soldiers in all, according to Ukrainian and Western estimates. But drones now kill more soldiers and destroy more armored vehicles in Ukraine than all traditional weapons of war combined, including sniper rifles, tanks, howitzers and mortars, Ukrainian commanders and officials say."

"He’s the Face of a White House Press Corps Under Attack by Trump," the Times

"Mr. Daniels, 36, a co-author of Politico’s Playbook newsletter, has now emerged as a key figure in an escalating fight between the Trump White House and the news media over press access and freedom. And he’s balancing his role at the association, which is unpaid volunteer work, with his career, moving this month to a new on-air job at MSNBC."

"Mr. Daniels, who came out as gay at 27 and has posted about his personal life on social media, has increasingly become the subject of slurs and criticism online as his profile has grown. He said he had deleted the X social platform from his phone as 'self care' so he could focus on his work. 'For me, that is separate and apart from the work that I do, and other people feel differently, and that’s fine,' he said."

"Hegseth Restores Fort Moore to Fort Benning in Honor of WWI Soldier," DOD press release

"The installation will now be renamed in honor of Army Cpl. Fred G. Benning, who 'served with extraordinary heroism during World War I with the United States Army, and in recognition of the installation's storied history of service to the United States of America,' the memo reads."

"The installation is home to the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, the United States Army Armor School, the United States Army Infantry School, the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment and multiple other tenant units.

"This is the second military installation that Hegseth has directed to be restored to its previous surname, albeit honoring separate individuals.

"On Feb. 11, 2025, Hegseth directed Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to restore its name to Fort Bragg in honor of WWII Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, an airborne infantryman who received the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity — as well as a Purple Heart for wounds sustained — during the Battle of the Bulge."

Travel

"Airbnb Distances Itself From Co-Founder Joe Gebbia's 'Personal Views'," Skift

"In a sharp break, Airbnb has distanced itself from the personal opinions of co-founder and board member Joe Gebbia, who has become a vocal supporter of President Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE."

"A source close to Airbnb said Gebbia’s turn toward Trump, which the co-founder announced on X two days after the inauguration in January, and advocacy for DOGE have created consternation internally at Airbnb, which is a very liberal company."

"Southwest Just Cut Your Frequent Flyer Points By Two-Thirds—Without Warning, Even On Tickets You Already Bought," View from the Wing

"This applies even to tickets that have already been purchased – and since the tickets most likely to be purchased in advance are also the ones hit hardest, you’ll probably earn fewer points than expected on Southwest flights you already have planned.

"All non-refundable tickets will earn fewer points going forward. And elite bonuses of 25% for A-List members and 100% for A-List Preferred become less valuable too since those bonuses will be off of a smaller base"

"Supreme Court Case Could Reshape Airline Competition As American Airlines Fights Antitrust Block On JetBlue Partnership," View from the Wing

"The Biden administration sued to break up the partnership under antitrust rules. American and JetBlue no longer competed with each other even if they competed against Delta and United. Their position was that dividing markets with fewer competitors was per se illegal."

"American argues it was improper for a court to override DOT’s expert judgment without clear evidence of harm ... The odds that the Supreme Court will take any given case are low. American Airlines seeks to frame the issue as a broad one for antitrust rather than a single narrow dispute, and suggests that there is a ‘circuit split’ in how the fifth circuit applied Supreme Court precedent (suggesting that the 2nd, 9th, and 11th Circuits would not condemn a collaboration absent evidence of higher prices or reduced output​). If the Supreme Court perceives a genuine split in how lower courts apply the rule of reason to collaborations, that could increase the chances of review. ... It’s unclear whether there will be 5 votes to take the case."

"This Airline is Actually Improving The Flying Experience For Economy Class Passengers With Welcome Aperitifs And a Signature Fragrance," Paddle Your Own Kanoo

"SWISS Senses is a major upgrade program for the airline that will eventually see brand new cabin interiors, including new First and Business Class seats, but in its initial iteration, the concept is providing upgrades to the Economy Class experience with so-called ‘soft product’ upgrades.

"The improvements will be immediately apparent for customers when the board the plane with upgraded soft pillows and blankets made from recycled materials waiting at their seats, along with complimentary headphones that SWISS promises will provide improved sound quality."