Federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, said he will no longer meet with firms that “define problems,” such as research, advisory and strategy consulting companies.
In an internal email, the official said he will instead speak with organizations that offer solutions.
“This is about focus,” he wrote in the email obtained by Federal News Network. “Every hour we spend in meetings must move us closer to implementation, not ideation. We are not here to admire a problem — we’re here to solve it.”
No More Consulting Contracts
Barbaccia also advised government CIOs to cancel meetings with strategy firms or ask for a summary of solutions or deliverables they offer.
“If there’s an edge case you believe deserves discussion, seek an exception from me or your director,” he added.
The move follows decisions across federal agencies to reexamine consultant contracts.
In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a fellow Wash100 winner, terminated over $30 million in contracts with external consulting firms. Hegseth also told defense leaders in a memo circulated in May to look in-house for IT expertise to drive financial and operational efficiency.
The Department of Veterans Affairs also cancelled 585 non-mission-critical and duplicative contracts, including for leadership coaching and staff mentoring, in early 2025.
