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Agencies Cancel Over 100 Excessive Contracts Worth $4.4B
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Government contracting. DOGE said federal agencies canceled 103 excessive contracts with a ceiling value of $4.4 billion.

The Department of Government Efficiency announced that, over the past five days, federal agencies canceled 103 excessive contracts with a total ceiling value of $4.4 billion, resulting in a reported $103 million in savings, The Epoch Times reported on Monday. 

What Contracts Were Canceled?

In a post on X Saturday, DOGE said the canceled contracts include a $13.4 million Department of Veterans Affairs consulting contract for coaching and dashboard services; a $43,000 State Department training contract for “crucial influence and getting things done courses”; and a $44,000 educational training contract of the State Department for “crucial conversations and power of habit courses.”

How Has Federal Spending Been Reduced?

Since its launch, DOGE said it has saved approximately $214 billion through contract renegotiations, asset sales and prevention of improper and fraudulent payments, which amounts to about $1,329 per American taxpayer. 

Agencies reporting the highest savings include the Department of Health and Human Services, the General Services Administration, Social Security Administration, the Office of Personnel Management and the Small Business Administration.

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University of Arizona Appoints Linda Bixby as Chief Research Partnerships Officer
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Arizona CRPO Linda Bixby. Linda Bixby has been appointed chief research partnerships officer at the University of Arizona.

Linda Bixby has been appointed chief research partnerships officer at the University of Arizona.

The university said Tuesday her appointment is intended to reinforce the Office of Research and Partnerships’ leadership team. The move also aims to expand the university’s research enterprise and societal impact.

What Are Linda Bixby’s New Responsibilities?

Bixby will leverage over 35 years of leadership experience across government, industry, academia and nonprofits in her new role. She will oversee the university’s initiatives to expand collaborations with industry, philanthropic partners, national laboratories and local communities, while guiding campus collaborations, strategic agreements, and economic growth in Arizona.

What Roles Has Bixby Held Before Joining UA?

The new UA CRPO held extensive leadership and advisory roles across academia, corporate, federal consulting, intelligence community and national security sectors. She currently serves as a board member of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business, Bixby Capital Management, George Mason University’s Costello College of Business, the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering & Applied Science, and formerly at the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering.

Bixby also held various senior roles at the NobleReach Foundation, LMI and Integrity Business Solutions. Her earlier career includes nearly a decade at Booz Allen Hamilton as a senior associate and four years as an assistant professor and scholar in residence at American University.

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Chinese Cyber Espionage Surges 150%, House Committee Warns
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Cyberthreat actor. A new House report shows rising cyberattacks on U.S. sectors, led by China-linked operations.

The House Committee on Homeland Security has released an updated “Cyber Threat Snapshot” detailing a sharp rise in cyberattacks by nation-states and criminal groups targeting U.S. networks and critical infrastructure. The report comes as the country transitions from Cybersecurity Awareness Month to Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month.

Chinese Cyber Espionage Surges 150%, House Committee Warns

The increasing state-sponsored and criminal cyberattacks underscore the urgency of strengthening critical infrastructure defense. On Nov. 12, Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit will bring together DHS, CISA and industry leaders to discuss how emerging technologies, AI and cross-sector collaboration can fortify the nation’s cybersecurity posture. Register now to hear from experts shaping America’s resilience against evolving cyberthreats.

Which US Sectors Are Facing the Greatest Threats?

The document highlights the aggressive targeting of key U.S. sectors, with particular emphasis on activity associated with China.

The industries most frequently targeted in attacks, according to CrowdStrike data included in the snapshot, are manufacturing; finance and insurance; and professional, business and consumer services. Energy, transportation, retail, healthcare and wholesale sectors account for the remaining documented attacks.

Attacks linked to China surged 150 percent in 2024, with operations against financial services, media, manufacturing and industrial networks increasing 300 percent.

The threat snapshot stated that intrusions into critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, telecommunications and water are likely aimed at establishing long-term access for potential disruption during a geopolitical crisis. A cited example involved China-backed actors maintaining network access for months within a public power utility in Littleton, Massachusetts.

The report also referenced the Salt Typhoon espionage campaign, which infiltrated at least nine major telecommunications providers in 2024, reportedly to exfiltrate sensitive data, conduct espionage on law enforcement’s wiretapping requests and access presidential candidates’ phones.

How Much Are Cyberattacks Costing the U.S. Economy?

Citing data from IBM, the threat snapshot noted that the average cost of a U.S. data breach in 2025 has reached $10 million, more than double the global average. The increasing cyberthreats are compounded by ongoing operational disruptions, including the current federal government shutdown and the lapse of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015.

“Amid a heightened threat landscape, we must take a whole-of-society approach to countering escalating cyber threats from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and others,” said HCHS Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., upon releasing the snapshot. “As the shutdown continues and a gap remains in our cyber information sharing authorities, a decrease in the visibility of cyber threats across public and private sectors could create blind spots in our networks. Senate Democrats must reopen the government so we can chart a better path forward for our nation’s collective cyber resilience.”

How Are Other Adversaries Expanding Their Cyber Operations?

Cyber operations from other adversaries are also intensifying:

  • Iran-linked attacks increased 133 percent between March and June 2025.
  • Russia-affiliated hackers reportedly breached the U.S. Courts’ electronic case filing system in July 2025.
  • North Korea is leveraging artificial intelligence to deploy covert IT workers into U.S. companies, using AI tools to enhance cyber intrusions. The report noted that AI-driven attacks were tied to one in six data breaches in 2025, citing data from IBM.

Cyber attacks have led to severe disruptions at the local level, forcing cities like St. Paul, Minnesota, and Mission, Texas, to declare states of emergency. According to the committee, many state, local, tribal and territorial governments lack the necessary resources and technical expertise to defend their systems against advanced cyberthreats.

Meanwhile, ransomware groups like Scattered Spider continue to operate globally, targeting large corporations through extortion and data theft schemes.

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Pentagon Launches Survey to Gauge Small Business Readiness for CMMC
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Department of Defense's logo. The DOD launched a survey on CMMC readiness among small businesses

The Department of Defense is conducting a survey on the readiness of small businesses to meet the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements, which are set to go into effect on Nov. 10, Federal News Network reported.

What Does the Pentagon Want to Know?

The DOD’s Office of Small Business Programs launched the Cybersecurity Compliance: Small Business Pulse Survey to identify concerns and challenges related to CMMC. According to the survey website, responses will enable the office to provide better guidance and resources to help small businesses meet the defense contracting requirements.  

The survey includes questions about the organization’s current CMMC status, whether they have used a managed service provider or a consultant, their NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment and Supplier Performance Risk System score, and the estimated amount they expect to spend to achieve compliance.

The CMMC program aims to ensure that sensitive unclassified information, shared by the Pentagon with its contractors and subcontractors, is protected. As CMMC enters into force, defense agencies are expected to include cyber requirements in contracts.

The government shutdown is not expected to affect the CMMC’s implementation, according to Matthew Travis, chief executive officer of the Cyber Accreditation Body.

At Palo Alto Networks’ public sector conference, he shared that “CMMC is here,” even if no contracting officer is present to enforce it.

Is the DIB Ready for CMMC?

Despite the upcoming implementation of the CMMC, many companies within the defense industrial base remain unprepared for the acquisition rule.

In October, CyberSheath published its State of the DIB Report 2025, which found that only one percent of contractors are ready for assessments that would determine if they are eligible to continue doing business with the DOD.

The report also revealed that only 42 percent of respondents have submitted Supplier Performance Risk System scores with a median score of 60, which is below the required 110.  

“Eighty thousand defense contractors need Level 2 certification, yet only 270 of these organizations currently hold final CMMC certificates,” CyberSheath CEO Emil Sayegh stated.

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USTRANSCOM Seeks Zero Trust Contract File Management System
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USTRANSCOM seal. USTRANSCOM is seeking a cloud-enabled contract file management system aligned with zero trust architecture.

The U.S. Transportation Command Acquisition office, or TCAQ, is seeking industry input on a secure, cloud-enabled contract file management system aligned with zero trust architecture.

What Is USTRANSCOM Seeking in a Contract File Management System?

The initiative aims to replace fragmented legacy tools with a new system that can handle the entire contract lifecycle management process, covering all phases from request to closeout, according to the solicitation notice posted Monday on SAM.gov.

The solicitation, released under a commercial solutions opening, specifies mandatory security attributes for the contract file management system. These requirements include multi-factor authentication for every user, while also utilizing granular role-based access control and attribute-based access control to govern access to data according to specific roles and responsibilities.

What Are the Requirements for the USTRANSCOM System?

The system must support automated workflows for routing, approvals and notifications, along with secure document management for version control and retrieval. It should generate detailed reports on contract performance, compliance and resource utilization and integrate seamlessly with USTRANSCOM systems for data analytics.

Multi-factor authentication, role-based access control and attribute-based access control will restrict data access based on roles and responsibilities. The system must securely handle controlled unclassified information and personally identifiable information with encryption, access controls and secure application programming interfaces for integration.

Continuous security monitoring, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing and software supply chain security are required. The system must be scalable to meet TCAQ’s evolving needs, with strong data governance, including data tagging and classification, to ensure performance under peak loads.

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Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank Confirmed as Lieutenant General & Cyber Commander
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Christopher Eubank. Army major general confirmed as lieutenant general and Army cyber commander.

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank to lieutenant general. According to a Congress notification, his nomination was approved Thursday, along with eight other Army promotions to the rank.

Eubank’s Cybersecurity Roles in the Service Branch

Eubank has previously served as the deputy commander and commander of Army Network Enterprise Technology Command. As the command’s head, Eubank announced in June 2024 cybersecurity measures cutting soldiers and civilians’ laptop access to the Army network via commercial internet.

He is currently the special assistant to the commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. With the Senate’s confirmation, Eubank also be made head of Army Cyber Command, overseeing USCYBERCOM operations within Central Command, Africa Command and Northern Command, Breaking Defense reported.

What Is Eubank’s Army Career Background?

Eubank’s Army career started in 1991 as an armor officer, serving as a platoon leader in the mechanized unit of the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. He was assigned in 1993 as a platoon leader in the 121st Signal Battalion. Subsequently, Eubank commanded the 7th Signal Command. 

The other Army officers whose nominations as lieutenant general were confirmed by the Senate are Michelle Schmidt, Peter Benchoff, Michelle Donahue, James Isenhower III, William Taylor, Richard Zellmann, Michael McCurry II and Francisco J. Lozano.

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The Essential DOD 5G Briefing for GovCons
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As the backbone of next-generation communications, 5G offers ultra-fast speeds and low latency for defense and intel missions

5G technology represents a transformative leap in connectivity that GovCons cannot afford to miss. As the backbone of next-generation communications, 5G offers ultra-fast speeds, low latency and the capacity to support massive data flows, capabilities essential for defense, intelligence, homeland security missions and more.

From cybersecurity resilience to edge computing, 5G will shape how technology executives design and deliver government services. Let’s dive into the five most essential 5G updates to keep technology executives at the forefront of this revolutionary technology.

Get the latest military 5G business opportunities straight from Thomas Rondeau, the Pentagon’s principal director for FutureG and 5G, during his keynote at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29! Be the first to learn what the Defense Department needs from industry to accelerate 5G research and fielding. Get your pressing questions answered during Rondeau’s Q&A session. Sign up today for this elite GovCon event!

1. DOD’s Path to 5G

DOD sees how 5G is improving how soldiers use weapon systems and communicate with each other. It has now embarked on an ambitious plan to install private 5G networks on military installations.

DOD in late 2024 issued its Private 5G Deployment Strategy, which is a framework for how the department seeks to best harness the power of 5G. DOD has three key objectives as part of this strategy:

  • Prioritize mission, security, operating environment, performance and acquisition feasibility. DOD should perform a technical and business case analysis to analyze whether specific mission, coverage, security and performance requirements can only be met by private 5G.
  • Accelerate acquisition, development and secure deployment of 5G. The department should increase the use of common architectures, risk frameworks and standards while adhering to cyber and supply chain risk management requirements.
  • Expand the use of an Open Radio Access Network ecosystem. Open RAN offers transparent interfaces, component modularity and a new radio layer application capability. This will enable better vendor diversity, supply chain security and operational innovation.

By adhering to these three objectives, DOD believes it will use the most appropriate commercial wireless investments, standardize modernization processes, avoid stove-piped offerings and strengthen the defense industrial base, among other benefits.

2. A Real-World 5G Demonstration

DOD knows a demonstration is the fastest way to prove out 5G technologies and evaluate whether they are ready for battlefield action. The department recently awarded contracts to five teams for its Advanced Spectrum Coexistence demonstration that it expects to begin in November, DefenseScoop reported.

Previously called Advanced Dynamic Spectrum Sharing Demonstration, this program has a goal of validating emerging capabilities that would permit DOD and industry to simultaneously operate on the same electromagnetic spectrum band. Teams will evaluate cutting-edge spectrum-sharing technologies and use the output to educate the department’s upcoming work with the private sector on 5G.

Each of the military services use spectrum, specifically the 3.2-3.45 GHz S-band, as the basis for critical equipment such as weapons, radars and other systems. But the telecommunications industry has been asking for parts of that spectrum to be auctioned so it can be used for civil and commercial 5G uses.

5G capability will be critical for a DOD program that is a favorite of the White House: the proposed Golden Dome homeland missile defense system. Mari Silbey, National Spectrum Consortium chief program officer, said Golden Dome will require connectivity for alert, detection and counter-action. The bands that DOD covets for Golden Dome are highly desired both by the federal government and by industry.

The five teams that received contracts are: Peraton Labs, Interdigital Communications, Nokia Federal Solutions, RTX BBN Technologies and Northwestern University.

Are you a technology executive with a wireless communications portfolio? Then you can’t afford to miss a keynote address by Thomas Rondeau, principal director for FutureG and 5G in DOD’s OUSD for R&E, at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29! Learn directly from Rondeau how to tailor your offerings for contracting success. Spark collaborations with other GovCon titans and score that big contract. Secure your seat today!

3. Initial Contract Awards

Future Technologies announced on Sept. 16 that it was awarded over $50 million in contracts from DOD for efforts related to private 5G. As part of these awards, the department will improve operational continuity and provide services such as connected warfighter, augmented reality and virtual reality training, unmanned aircraft, AI-driven capabilities and test and training efforts, according to a company statement.

The company is broadening its connectivity services to support rising areas of interest to include research and engineering, research and development, advanced use case development, and more. Future Technologies is a lead system integrator with specialties in connectivity transformation, including requirement definition, procurement, design, deployment and sustainment of private networks.

A USMC AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR. Photo: U.S. Air Force
A Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR. The USMC recently experimented with 5G connectivity using a G/ATOR. Photo: U.S. Air Force.

4. Marine Corps Advances in 5G

The Marine Corps has been the DOD service leading the way in 5G experimentation. The corps in 2024 demonstrated an active radar and a 5G network in the same band without interference, a major milestone, according to USNI News.

A squad operating an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR, sent contract track through encryptors to a 5G device connected to a cellular network to enable air defense. Satellite nodes and radar contribute secure air defense and surveillance in maritime combat, but these aren’t reliable for DOD in the Indo-Pacific because of gaps in satellite coverage and high-tech threats from capable adversaries.

A three-year, DOD-sponsored 5G demonstration focusing on USMC units in the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations—a.k.a. EABO—environment completed at the end of 2024. In a field demo spanning 48 hours, teams experimented with 5G technologies for different tasks and a variety of EABO missions, such as forward aircraft arming and refueling, perimeter security and long-range precision fires.

One of the DOD’s goals with these demonstrations is to expand the defense industrial base providing rugged, jam-resistant 5G communications. Few U.S. cellular firms are in that market and none of them have existing 5G networks capable, and secure, enough for DOD, said Scot Hoesly, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity program manager for the experiment.

5. 5G Opportunities for Industry

DOD’s experimentation with 5G has plenty of opportunities for GovCons. These include:

  • Infrastructure development. DOD is looking for companies that can design and deploy Open RAN-capable private networks that prioritize flexibility and scalability.
  • Security. The department seeks contractors developing advanced security protocols to meet the demanding needs of military users.

Data transfer and analysis capabilities. The Pentagon is prioritizing tools that allow secure data flow in Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control infrastructure, bolstering decision-making velocity and accuracy.

The Essential DOD 5G Briefing for GovCons
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US, China Reach Trade & Economic Deal
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White House logo. The Trump administration reached a trade and economic agreement with China.

The Trump administration has announced a trade and economic agreement with China aimed at rebalancing trade, protecting national security and expanding opportunities for American workers and farmers. 

In a fact sheet published Saturday, the White House said the deal, reached during President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea, includes commitments from Beijing on rare earth exports, semiconductors and agricultural purchases. 

What Is the Deal on Rare Earths & Critical Minerals?

A key element of the agreement focuses on rare earths and other critical minerals.

China will issue general licenses for the export of rare earths, antimony, gallium, germanium and graphite, effectively rolling back controls imposed in 2022 and 2025.

The East Asian country will also suspend the implementation of new export controls on rare earths worldwide. The latest moves are expected to benefit U.S. end users and their suppliers.

How Will US Semiconductor Supply Chains Benefit From the Trade Deal?

Under the agreement, China will remove restrictions on U.S. semiconductor companies, including ending antitrust, anti-dumping and anti-monopoly investigations that had targeted U.S. firms in the semiconductor supply chain.

Production and exports from facilities such as Nexperia’s plants in China will also resume, ensuring a steady supply of critical legacy chips for international markets.

What Are the US Actions Under the Trade Deal?

In return, the U.S. will reduce certain tariffs imposed to curb fentanyl flows by 10 percentage points and extend Section 301 tariff exclusions through November 2026.

The Trump administration will also suspend for one year the implementation of new end-user export controls and actions related to China’s shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors.

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ODNI Discloses $73.3B FY25 Appropriated Budget for Intelligence Program
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Finance and budget. ODNI said FY 2025 congressional appropriations for NIP were $73.3 billion.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced that Congress appropriated an aggregate amount of $73.3 billion for the National Intelligence Program, or NIP, in fiscal year 2025.

ODNI said Friday the appropriated budget includes supplemental funding.

The figure reflects a 4 percent drop from the previous year’s topline budget.

For FY 2024, Congress appropriated $76.5 billion in total funding for the NIP, including supplemental funds, up 6.7 percent from the FY 2023 topline of $71.7 billion. 

ODNI stated that beyond the FY 2025 topline figure, there will be no further disclosures of classified budget details, except for unclassified appropriations.

What Is the National Intelligence Program?

The National Intelligence Program encompasses all projects, programs and activities of the U.S. intelligence community, as well as other intelligence efforts jointly designated by the director of national intelligence, the respective department or agency, and the president.

NIP covers the collection, analysis and dissemination of foreign and domestic intelligence to protect national security.

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Leidos’ Paul Wilkinson Urges Federal Leaders to Prioritize Resilience in Digital Transformation
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Paul Wilkinson. The Leidos SVP sat for a video interview about the critical nature of digital modernization.

Federal agencies should view modernization as a strategic imperative rooted in security, adaptability and workforce development, according to Paul Wilkinson, senior vice president and digital modernization practice area leader at Leidos.

In a recent video interview with Executive Mosaic’s Charles Lyons-Burt, Wilkinson said the government’s success in digital transformation depends on sustained investment in zero trust security, adaptable architectures and technical talent capable of supporting long-term mission outcomes.

“The priority has to be proactive digital transformation with a focus on cybersecurity and adaptability,” Wilkinson said. “We have to make sure security is paramount in everything we do and stay focused on the mission while adopting new technologies.”

How Can Federal Agencies Strengthen Digital Resilience?

Wilkinson emphasized that resilience begins with a secure, integrated foundation that connects systems, data and people across complex mission environments. He cited zero trust architecture as essential for protecting federal data amid evolving threats and compliance shifts.

“Zero trust is at the core of everything,” Wilkinson said. “We have to make sure data and systems are secured while keeping pace with technology upgrades and new threats.”

According to Wilkinson, agencies should also focus on modular modernization, where cloud, AI and enterprise IT solutions can be scaled and adapted as mission needs evolve. This approach ensures that modernization investments deliver both near-term efficiencies and long-term resilience.

What Role Does Talent Play in the Federal Modernization Mission?

Wilkinson said the government’s ability to attract and retain top technical talent will determine whether modernization efforts succeed. He noted a recent shift in the workforce, where technologists increasingly seek roles that serve the public mission.

“We’re now in an era where top technical talent wants to work with the government. People want to make an impact on national security and more efficient government.”

At Leidos, the company has seen strong results from its communities of practice model, which fosters skill development, knowledge sharing and internal mobility. Wilkinson said this type of ecosystem can help government and industry alike sustain a skilled, mission-ready workforce capable of executing modernization at scale.

How Is Industry Supporting Federal Priorities Through Modernization?

Wilkinson said Leidos’ digital modernization sector, launched in early 2024, was designed to align closely with federal modernization goals and executive mandates. By integrating practices across cloud, cyber, AI and enterprise IT, Leidos supports agencies in meeting objectives outlined by the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense’s zero trust strategy.

“Our horizontal structure gives us a unique view into common challenges agencies face,” Wilkinson said. “By building repeatable, secure offerings that can be tailored for each mission, we’re helping customers move faster and with greater confidence.”

Looking Ahead: Building Trust and Adaptability

Wilkinson said federal leaders must strike a balance between embracing innovation and maintaining accountability in AI adoption and data management. Trusted, transparent architectures — supported by adaptable governance — will be critical to maintaining public trust while accelerating modernization.

“The adaptability is key,” Wilkinson said. “We have to make sure our AI is trusted and our data architectures can support intelligent automation in ways that are secure and mission-aligned.”

Delve into Wilkinson’s thoughts in full on YouTube and stay up to date with all of the latest GovCon leadership commentary by subscribing to Executive Mosaic’s channel.

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