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OMB agues backpay for furloughed feds not automatic

American feds are again being leveraged by the Trump administration, now via a draft memo from the OMB’s counsel arguing that back pay for furloughed workers after the current shutdown is not automatic. As Roll Call reports, OMB argues Congress must explicitly appropriate funds in the bill that reopens

Horizon cutting-room links: 8 October 2025

"Senate Confirms First OFPP Administrator Since 2019," Federal News Network The Senate has confirmed Kevin Rhodes as the first permanent administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) since 2019, marking a significant moment in federal procurement reform. Rhodes, a senior adviser to OMB, has a history

Horizon cutting-room links: 3 October 2025

"Is GSA Attempting to Apply Price Controls to the Reseller Market?" Federal News Network GSA is reportedly moving to impose a five percent cap on the markup for value-added resellers (VARs). It’s unclear whether this is profit or total markup. * GSA plans to cap the markup for

Boeing launches 737 replacement program

The Journal is reporting that Boeing has started work on a replacement for its aging 737 narrowbody jets, holding talks with engine-maker Rolls Royce. The so-called “clean sheet” replacement for the super-popular narrow-body jet (meaning only one aisle) will undoubtedly receive a ton of input from airlines as part of

Horizon cutting-room links, shutdown edition: 2 October 2025

"Trump Uses Shutdown to Maximize Pain for Democrats and Move Forward With Layoffs," New York Times President Trump aims to inflict maximum political damage on Democrats by halting billions in federal funds and preparing for mass layoffs of government employees. * The Trump administration has paused or canceled approximately

United Defense, LLC (B-423577)

You should not care. Category: Requirements Date: 13 August 2025 URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423577 United Defense protested the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) intelligence support RFP, arguing the agency had to amend the solicitation due to leadership signals of TRADOC consolidation with Army Futures Command

Skyladder Corporation—Protests and Costs (B-423498.2; B-423498.3)

You should not care. Category: Technical compliance, interested party, protest costs Date: 13 August 2025 URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423498.2%2Cb-423498.3 Skyladder challenged DLA Aviation’s award of a wiring‑harness delivery order to GE and sought protest costs. GAO dismissed the protest as Skyladder admitted

ConnectUP; Labasa LLC; SOFX Inc. (B-423557; B-423557.2; B-423557.3)

You should not care. Category: Late is late, delivery logistics Date: 12 August 2025 URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423557%2Cb-423557.2%2Cb-423557.3 Three SDVOSBs protested DLA’s rejection of their proposals for Gen III Layer 7 extreme cold weather trousers after their product demonstration models (PDMs) arrived

Horizon cutting-room links: Wednesday, 1 October 2025

From the Horizon, the US government shuts down, and OMB threatens further layoffs as Dems balk. "CACI-SAIC Dispute Over Air Force Contract Payment Comes to an End," Washington Business Journal The long-running legal dispute between CACI International Inc. and Science Applications International Corp. over an Air Force contract

Shutdown strategy: OMB threatens further layoffs as Dems balk

The Atlantic reports that “275,000 federal workers—more than a tenth of the workforce—will have voluntarily left the civil service by the end of December,” according to OPM on background. That person described the RIF as “the largest and most effective workforce-reduction plan in history.” Now comes a

Hegseth rails against the “fat” to military leaders, makes no mention of the stupid

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a rare, closed-door gathering of flag officers to press a throwback agenda heavy on grooming and fitness mandates and light on the complex realities of modern war, reports the New York Times. The message to 800 admirals and generals: lose the weight and shave the

US government shuts down

US government funding lapsed as Wednesday began after the White House and Congress failed to reach a deal on FY2026 appropriations, triggering a shutdown halting federal services and furloughing hundreds of thousands of workers. Financial markets signaled concern, with contracts tied to the S&P 500 pointing lower as

GLP‑1 drug’s rare gastric obstruction dissolved with Diet Coke

A case study in the New England Journal of Medicine, as reported by Ars Technica, highlights a rare side effect of GLP‑1 therapy—formation of a gastric bezoar—successfully treated with diet cola. In the case, a 63‑year‑old patient taking semaglutide for weight loss presented with severe

United Capital Investment Group, Inc. (B-423682)

You should not care. Category: Registration, timeliness Date: 11 August 2025 URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423682 United Capital Investment Group protested its exclusion from a DLA RFP for aviation turbine fuel after failing to be approved in the Joint Contingency Contracting System (JCCS) by the proposal due date.