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DHS Reports Historic Immigration Enforcement Under Trump Administration
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DHS logo. DHS reports over 515,000 deportations and 485,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants under the Trump administration

The Department of Homeland Security said it has conducted over 515,000 deportations and arrested 485,000 undocumented immigrants under the leadership of President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, a 2025 Wash100 awardee.

DHS Reports Historic Immigration Enforcement Under Trump Administration

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 to explore how AI and other emerging technologies are transforming U.S. security. Hear from Sec. Noem in the opening keynote address! Gain insights, connect with experts and learn how the private sector supports government security initiatives in interactive sessions. Register now.

In a post on X Tuesday, DHS said more than 2 million undocumented immigrants have left the U.S. since Trump took office in January.

The surge in deportations comes as part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Safe Again” agenda.

How Is DHS Achieving Record Deportations?

According to a report by Fox News, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the Trump administration is “on pace to shatter historic records” by reaching 600,000 deportations by the end of the year.

Of the 2 million that have left the U.S., 1.6 million account for voluntary departures, according to McLaughlin.

“Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now or face the consequence. Migrants are now even turning back before they reach our borders,” McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. 

She noted a 99.99 percent decline in migration through Panama’s Darien Gap, a key route for migrants attempting to reach the U.S. 

McLaughlin stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard continue nationwide operations targeting illegal immigration.

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SBA Says Federal Shutdown Blocks Loans for 4,800 Small Businesses
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Small Business Administration logo. Federal shutdown freezes SBA 7(a) and 504 lending.

The Small Business Administration has released a state-level analysis detailing the effects of the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has suspended the agency’s core 7(a) and 504 lending programs and disrupted access to capital for small businesses across the country.

How Many Small Businesses Are Affected?

According to the SBA, the shutdown has prevented an estimated 320 small businesses per day from obtaining $170 million in federally backed financing. Since the lapse in appropriations began, that figure amounts to approximately 4,800 small businesses nationwide unable to secure $2.5 billion in loans.

Both lending programs operate at no cost to taxpayers, as they are financed by lender fees. The 7(a) program supports general business financing such as working capital and expansion, while the 504 program focuses on long-term fixed assets like real estate and equipment.

In fiscal year 2025, the SBA guaranteed a record 84,400 loans worth $45 billion.

Economic Impact by State

The report provides a detailed state-by-state breakdown of unapproved or delayed SBA loans.

  • California recorded the highest weekly impact, with 212 loans worth $126.9 million delayed.
  • Texas followed with $88.9 million and Florida with $76.8 million in stalled lending.
  • Other large states with significant weekly impacts on SBA-guaranteed loans include New York, Georgia and Illinois.
  • Smaller states such as Vermont, Wyoming and West Virginia reported losses between $1.4 million and $1.6 million per week.

What Consequences Follow the Halting of SBA Loan Programs?

In a statement, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler combined praise for the administration’s policies regarding the small business climate and the current government funding situation with sharp criticism of Senate Democrats.

“Thanks to President Trump’s agenda to reduce taxes, regulation and unfair trade deals, small business optimism is at seven-year highs, resulting in the SBA serving a record 85,000 job creators with $45 billion in federally-backed loans – supporting historic hiring, expansion, and confidence on Main Street,” Loeffler said.

She then accused Senate Democrats of choosing to “cut off that momentum and that capital for Main Street,” arguing they blocked a clean funding bill in favor of “growing government spending by $1.5 trillion.”

The administrator concluded by warning about the severe consequences of the SBA loan programs being shuttered during the funding impasse: “With the SBA’s loan programs shuttered, thousands of small businesses are now unable to access the vital funding they need to survive, let alone thrive – and will soon begin cutting hours and benefits, laying off workers, and contemplating closing up shop for good.”

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Veterans Affairs Seeks Industry Input on Genesys Cloud Customer Experience
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VA logo. Department seeks industry input on Genesys platform for improving services to veterans with mental health challenges

The Department of Veterans Affairs is conducting market research on the Genesys Cloud Customer Experience using Magnify Framework Infrastructure as a Service. 

According to the department’s request for information issued on SAM.gov Tuesday, the VA’s Office of Information and Technology, Connectivity and Collaboration Services requires planning data for customer-handling of veterans with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts.

VA Customer Experience Enhancement Project

OIT is looking into a project to strengthen and stabilize the systems that connect VA call center professionals with said veterans. It also seeks to enhance the overall experience for veterans at large across all VA enterprise contact centers. 

Veterans Affairs Seeks Industry Input on Genesys Cloud Customer Experience

Leaders in government healthcare technology—including veteran and warfighter health—take the stage alongside prominent industry figures during the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 4. Secure your seat now for this essential annual GovCon conference.

The planned project’s focus is the implementation and deployment of the FedRAMP Moderate Genesys Cloud Customer Experience Contact Center infrastructure, including integrating new telephony circuits, monitoring systems, call recording, workforce management tools and voice analytics to enhance service quality and security. 

Available via Amazon Web Services, the Genesys platform is designed as an artificial intelligence-powered tool to help organizations manage and coordinate customer and employee interactions for more efficient and consistent engagement across all touchpoints.

The OIT CCS plan on the Genesys platform is for the issuance of a fair opportunity task order under the General Services Administration’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract.

Interested parties can submit their white papers via email to TAC-AProcurementTeamE@va.gov, with Nov. 5 as deadline.

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USPTO Hosts Trilateral Conference to Explore AI & IT Tech in Patent Examination
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USPTO Director John Squires. The USPTO hosted the Trilateral Conference to explore using AI and IT for patent examination.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office hosted the 43rd Trilateral Conference with the European Patent Office and the Japan Patent Office at its Alexandria, Virginia, headquarters on Oct. 21.

What Was the Purpose of the 43rd Trilateral Conference?

The USPTO said the meeting brought together senior officials from the Trilateral Offices to discuss how artificial intelligence and advanced IT systems can enhance patent examination efficiency and quality across jurisdictions.

USPTO Director John Squires, the under secretary of commerce for intellectual property, led the conference. Attendees included EPO vice president Steve Rowan, JPO commissioner Yasuyuki Kasai and Lisa Jorgenson of the World Intellectual Property Organization, who was there as an observer. Representatives from BusinessEurope, the Japan Intellectual Property Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Intellectual Property Owners Association were also in attendance.

Participants reviewed current patent filing trends and shared best practices on using IT and AI platforms to manage challenges and enhance efficiency. The offices exchanged insights on the tools, systems and ongoing efforts to align approaches to AI-related inventions. The industry representatives contributed insights on emerging challenges in the global patent landscape.

What Are the Next Steps?

The offices agreed to explore opportunities for AI-related collaboration, incorporating feedback from Industry Trilateral partners to improve efficiency and quality. They also committed to forming a Trilateral AI Working Group to develop a shared AI vision.

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Pete Hegseth Memo Requires Pentagon Clearance on DOD Staff’s Congressional Interactions
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Pete Hegseth. The DOD secretary issued a memo on internal clearance for Pentagon staff's congressional interactions

Pete Hegseth, secretary of the Department of Defense and a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, has issued a memo requiring DOD staff to secure prior clearance with the office of the assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs for all interactions with Congress and state elected officials. 

The Pentagon’s inspector general office is excluded from the directive issued last week and co-signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.

DOD communication with Congress covered by the memo includes congressional reporting, information requests, technical support and legislative correspondence.

DOD Legislative Agenda Cited as Directive’s Rationale

Achieving DOD’s legislative goals depends on a “collaborative and close partnership with Congress,” according to the memo. “This requires coordination and alignment of department messaging when engaging with Congress to ensure consistency and support for the department’s priorities to re-establish deterrence, rebuild our military and revive the warrior ethos,” the directive said. 

Pentagon personnel’s unauthorized interactions with Congress may jeopardize DOD-wide priorities for legislation, the memo noted further.

The directive is “a pragmatic step to internally review the department’s processes for communicating with Congress,” Sean Parnell, Pentagon’s chief spokesman told CNN Wednesday.

“The department intends to improve accuracy and responsiveness in communicating with the Congress to facilitate increased transparency,” Parnell said. “This review is for processes internal to the department and does not change how or from whom Congress receives information.”

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How Sec. Noem Is Paying DHS With Big Beautiful Bill Funds During Shutdown
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Kristi Noem. The DHS secretary is pulling funds allocated from July's Big Beautiful Bill to keep USCG, CBP, ICE, others paid

The Department of Homeland Security has begun using funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to pay Coast Guard and law enforcement personnel during the ongoing government shutdown, Roll Call reports. Homeland Security Secretary and 2025 Wash100 Award winner Kristi Noem said her department found an “innovative solution” that repurposes funding from the reconciliation package signed on July 4.

Sec. Noem is delivering an in-person keynote address at the 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12. This essential all-day GovCon networking event will cover top DHS tech priorities like AI and cyber. Register now to learn how you can partner with CISA, ICE, CBP and more!

According to Roll Call, the $24.6 billion allocated to the U.S. Coast Guard—initially intended for cutters, aircraft and shore facility construction—has been temporarily redirected to ensure service members receive their paychecks. The department appears to be relying on existing transfer authority provisions that let DHS move up to five percent of funding across accounts, bolstered by the multi-year flexibility built into the One Big Beautiful Bill, which makes most funds available through fiscal 2029.

How Is DHS Using Big Beautiful Bill Funds During the Shutdown?

How Sec. Noem Is Paying DHS With Big Beautiful Bill Funds During Shutdown

Noem announced on X that Coast Guard paychecks scheduled for Oct. 15 would be delivered on time, despite the lapse in appropriations that began Oct. 1.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the One Big Beautiful Bill, the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard will not miss a paycheck this week,” she wrote.

Federal News Network said that DHS expanded the workaround beyond the Coast Guard, ensuring pay for more than 70,000 federal law enforcement officials across Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service and federal air marshals. Those employees, the outlet reported, will receive a “super check” by Oct. 22 covering back pay, overtime and their next full pay period.

A DHS spokesperson told Federal News Network that the One Big Beautiful Bill “will ensure these 70,000 employees will be having their pay covered during the Democrats’ government shutdown.”

Fiscal Context

In a parallel move to Noem’s decision, the Trump administration also directed the Defense Department to use $8 billion in unspent R&D funds to pay active-duty service members. President Donald Trump said on X that OMB’s plan was to “pay the troops, pay law enforcement, continue the RIFs, and wait.”

Unions expressed mixed reactions. NTEU President Doreen Greenwald told Federal News Network the payments were “welcome news” for CBP officers but did not cover other DHS employees, while AFGE representatives warned that continued uncertainty was harming morale and veterans’ mental health.

Roll Call also reported that the law’s text contains “fairly flexible instructions” on how certain DHS funds may be spent—language that could permit the department to apply appropriations for Coast Guard and law-enforcement salaries even without explicit new transfer authority.

What Does DHS Big Beautiful Bill Usage Mean for GovCons?

For government contractors, Noem’s efforts underscore the budget elasticity of the One Big Beautiful Bill. The same multi-year funding that allowed DHS to continue payroll could also support critical mission contracts in financial management, payroll systems and continuity-of-operations planning.

This reprogramming sets a precedent for how DHS might sustain essential operations during future funding gaps—creating potential demand for GovCons specializing in budget execution support, auditing and fiscal compliance consulting.

The One Big Beautiful Bill, Noem said, ensures that DHS “can defend America’s borders and missions without interruption.” For GovCons, that flexibility signals a funding environment where adaptability is as valuable as capacity.

Don’t miss your chance to hear from an all-star lineup of influential DHS decision-makers, including Sec. Noem and CISA Chief Information Officer Robert Costello, at the 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12. Save your seat before they sell out!

How Sec. Noem Is Paying DHS With Big Beautiful Bill Funds During Shutdown
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Senate Bill Seeks to Advance Nuclear Fuel Recycling Research
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Capitol Hill building. Senators Ted Cruz and Martin Heinrich proposed the Advancing Research in Nuclear Fuel Recycling Act.

Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., have introduced a bill aimed at advancing domestic nuclear fuel recycling research and assessing the potential benefits of recycling spent nuclear fuel.

Cruz’s office said Friday the proposed Advancing Research in Nuclear Fuel Recycling Act of 2025 directs the Department of Energy to study the benefits, costs and risks of recycling spent nuclear fuel, particularly in comparison to interim storage solutions.

What Will the DOE Study on Nuclear Fuel Recycling Examine? 

Under the legislation, the DOE would examine historical and current challenges to nuclear fuel recycling in the U.S., identify barriers to new recycling projects and provide policy recommendations to address the challenges to recycling spent nuclear fuel.

“Spent nuclear fuel has the potential to dramatically increase America’s energy, economic, and national security. Domestic recycling can reduce the space we need for spent nuclear fuel, enhance energy independence, reduce our dependence on imports, and broaden the supply of rare elements and isotopes used in medicine and advanced technologies,” Cruz said.

“Recycling solutions will also reduce the burden on individual states from nuclear waste accumulation, and accelerate progress on nuclear energy, which is our nation’s cleanest baseload energy source,” the senator added.

What Nuclear Industry Leaders Are Saying About the Senate Bill?

Nuclear tech companies, such as Curio and Oklo, and the Nuclear Energy Institute have expressed support for the bipartisan Senate measure.

Curio CEO Ed McGinnis said spent nuclear fuel is a valuable energy resource that can enhance U.S. energy security and support advanced nuclear technologies.

“Thoughtful, science-driven approaches to recycling spent fuel are critical to unlocking that potential and ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of nuclear innovation,” McGinnis added.

Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, stated that the proposed bill recognizes fuel recycling as a strategic pathway to strengthen domestic energy supply chains.

“Oklo is continuing to advance its own recycling initiatives, including plans for a commercial fuel recycling facility aimed at turning waste into a reliable domestic fuel source for its Aurora powerhouses,” he noted.

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Trump Administration Announces Critical Minerals, Defense Deals With Australia
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White House. The U.S. and Australia signed agreements to drive innovation and defense cooperation.

The Trump administration announced a series of agreements with Australia to drive innovation, advance defense capabilities and strengthen supply chain cooperation.

How Will the Critical Minerals Framework Strengthen Supply Chains?

The White House said Monday President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a Critical Minerals Framework that will unlock more than $3 billion in joint investments over the next six months.

The critical mineral projects, with recoverable resources estimated at $53 billion, are designed to improve supply chain resilience and support global energy security.

The Pentagon will fund the construction of a 100-metric-ton-per-year gallium refinery in Western Australia, aiming to boost self-sufficiency in processing critical minerals.

How Are Defense Investments Reinforcing AUKUS Alliance?

According to the White House, the Australian government is making defense investments to deepen its defense cooperation with the U.S.

Australia has committed to procuring $1.2 billion in Anduril-built unmanned underwater vehicles, $2.6 billion in Apache helicopters, as well as contributing $2 billion to help expand the U.S. submarine industrial base. The country is also investing $2 billion in U.S. companies for its Joint Air Battle Management System and advancing its Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise.

The deals are part of efforts to strengthen the Australia-U.K.-U.S., or AUKUS, trilateral security partnership to help counter future threats.

What Will US-Australia Technology Cooperation Deliver?

To drive innovation, technological leadership and economic growth, Australia’s superannuation funds will reportedly increase investments in the U.S. to $1.44 trillion by 2035, generating tens of thousands of U.S. jobs.

The White House also highlighted progress in other sectors, including expanded market access for U.S. beef exports to Australia and a NASA-Australian Space Agency framework agreement, which will support lunar exploration through the Artemis program.

The agreements also include a Technology Prosperity Deal designed to promote joint investments in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other critical technologies.

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Alford, Scholten Introduce Bipartisan AI for Main Street Act
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U.S. Capitol. Reps. Mark Alford and Hillary Scholten have introduced the AI for Main Street Act.

Reps. Mark Alford, R-Mo., and Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., have introduced the AI for Main Street Act, a bipartisan bill that mandates the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, to guide small enterprises through the selection and integration of AI technologies.

How Will AI for Main Street Act Help Small Businesses?

According to a press release from Alford’s office Monday, the legislation seeks to expand guidance, training and outreach to ensure entrepreneurs can effectively integrate AI into their operations. The proposed bill leverages prior programs like America’s SBDC AI U to scale AI assistance nationwide.

Bipartisan Bill to Bridge AI Gap Between Large & Small Businesses

According to Alford, the expanding use of AI presents both opportunities and risks. He emphasized that large corporations with the financial and human capital to invest in AI help boost AI development and adoption. However, small businesses on “Main Street” are being left behind.

“That’s why we’re introducing the AI for Main Street Act to provide small businesses with the resources, education and training needed to utilize artificial intelligence,” said Alford.

“As AI creates new industries, reshapes old ones and redefines the skills people need to succeed, this bill will make sure small businesses aren’t being left behind,” stated Scholten.

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OPM Launches Effort to Establish Governmentwide HR System to Boost Efficiency, Cost-Savings
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Office of Personnel Management's logo. OPM has issued a Federal Human Resources IT Modernization request for proposals.

The Office of Personnel Management has launched an effort to consolidate the 119 separate human capital management systems in use across various agencies with a single, governmentwide platform that would simplify operations, eliminate redundancy, drive efficiencies and cost-savings, and provide a better view of federal workforce information.

In a blog post, OPM Director Kiran Ahuja invited industry to submit proposals for a core HCM system that could transform how the government manages its talent pool.

Why Does OPM Want a Governmentwide HCM System?

According to Ahuja, having separate HCM systems per agency limits transparency and efficiency. She explained that none of the 119 HCM systems are interoperable with one another, preventing agencies from accessing consistent and accurate employee information.

For instance, OPM personnel will need to coordinate with HR staff from multiple agencies to assemble a “golden file” of a retiring employee’s work history.

The lack of a core HCM system also means that the government does not have a single resource for how many positions are in an organization, how much employees are paid per sub-department and other workforce information.

Moreover, Ahuja revealed that the government spends about $5.5 billion annually across the 44,000 HR professionals it currently employs. She stated that HR professionals must focus on their core missions rather than navigate outdated and duplicative technology systems.

How Will OPM Implement the Overhaul?

In a request for proposals for the Federal Human Resources IT Modernization posted on SAM.gov Friday, OPM said it is seeking an industry partner to use agile methodologies and best practices to plan, develop and implement a core HCM system to support approximately 2 million federal employees.

The system must be adaptive, scalable and interoperable with other agency platforms and meet Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program Moderate or higher certification standards.

The government will award an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a 10-year period of performance. Work will be conducted at various locations within the continental United States. 

Interested parties may submit their proposals until Oct. 31. 

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