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Articles by Maika Ito
SpaceX Defense Portfolio Surges with Trump’s Golden Dome Awards Original
SpaceX more than tripled its defense contracting footprint in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026 for space-based missile defense capabilities key to President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome initiative. Reported defense obligations for SpaceX total $5.9 billion so far in fiscal 2026, up from $1.8 billion in all of fiscal 2025, according to Bloomberg Government analysis of the most recently available data.
Federal Contract Spending to Top $1 Trillion Despite DOGE Cuts
Federal procurement spending is projected to cross the $1 trillion threshold for the first time, driven by President Donald Trump’s focus on national security and immigration enforcement, according to a Bloomberg Government analysis. The record spending via federal contracts in fiscal 2026 reflects the steep cost of the administration’s priorities, and stands out after the now-dormant Department of Government Efficiency sought to slash government programs after Trump returned to office.
Federal Contract Spending to Top $1 Trillion Despite DOGE Cuts
Exclusive Oct. 13, 2026, 9:05 AM UTC Federal procurement spending is projected to cross the $1 trillion threshold for the first time, driven by President Donald Trump’s focus on national security and immigration enforcement, according to a Bloomberg Government analysis.
BGOV OnPoint: Immigration Push Drove Civilian Contracting Record
Civilian agencies set new procurement highs in fiscal 2026, bolstered by funding infusions to expedite President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. Civilian spending grew to $344.7 billion, a 20% year-over-year increase, with cash-flush Homeland Security agencies driving the bulk of contracting. Total obligations could reach $1 trillion for the first time when factoring in projected defense procurement.
BGOV OnPoint: Immigration Push Drove Civilian Contracting Record
Civilian agencies set new procurement highs in fiscal 2026, bolstered by funding infusions to expedite President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. Civilian spending grew to $344.7 billion, a 20% year-over-year increase, with cash-flush Homeland Security agencies driving the bulk of contracting. Total obligations could reach $1 trillion for the first time when factoring in projected defense procurement.
DHS Contracts Drive Fiscal 2026 Civilian Market to Record High Original
A surge in Department of Homeland Security contracting lifted the civilian procurement market out of its fiscal 2025 slump, pushing obligations to a record $332.7 billion in fiscal 2026. Civilian agencies collectively spent $45.5 billion more than in fiscal 2025, an increase of 16% year-over-year, according to Bloomberg Government analysis of preliminary data.
Corporate PAC Attacks Skyrocket in House, Senate Campaign Ads Original
Election 2026 Sept. 30, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC Politicians’ attacks on corporations and corporate PACs are surging in midterm campaigns, signaling rocky turf ahead for business interests in the next Congress. The number of broadcast ads invoking corporate political action committees or corporations has skyrocketed this cycle, already outpacing those in 2022 and 2024, according to an analysis from AdImpact.
Trump Policies Buoy Commercial Defense Purchases: Explained
An emerging defense acquisition method is redirecting federal procurement spending away from traditional buying strategies subject to expansive regulations. Obligations tied to commercial solutions openings awards doubled since President Donald Trump returned to office and has made a broader push to overhaul federal contracting rules, including to prioritize purchases of commercial products and speed up the acquisition process.
Trump Policies Buoy Commercial Defense Purchases: Explained
An emerging defense acquisition method is redirecting federal procurement spending away from traditional buying strategies subject to expansive regulations. Obligations tied to commercial solutions openings awards doubled since President Donald Trump returned to office and has made a broader push to overhaul federal contracting rules, including to prioritize purchases of commercial products and speed up the acquisition process.
Agencies Have Weeks to Hit FY25’s Consolidated IT Buying Level
Purchases under the group of contracts known as governmentwide acquisition vehicles are one metric of assessing how agencies are responding to federal procurement consolidation efforts by the Trump administration. Civilian agencies have obligated $12.1 billion so far in fiscal 2026 against GWACs, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. That’s nearly one-third of all non-defense spending on IT products and services.
Agencies Have Weeks to Hit FY25’s Consolidated IT Buying Level
Purchases under the group of contracts known as governmentwide acquisition vehicles are one metric of assessing how agencies are responding to federal procurement consolidation efforts by the Trump administration. Civilian agencies have obligated $12.1 billion so far in fiscal 2026 against GWACs, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. That’s nearly one-third of all non-defense spending on IT products and services.
Small Companies Say Trump Plan Guts Their US Contract Advantage
Sept. 8, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC A Trump administration proposal to significantly expand the scope of what it considers to be a small business is drawing criticism from entrepreneurs who would be forced to compete against much larger firms for government contracts. The proposal from the Small Business Administration, released last month, would increase the amount of revenue a business can take in while still being considered small by a factor of 10 or more in some instances.
Small Companies Say Trump Plan Guts Their US Contract Advantage
A Trump administration proposal to significantly expand the scope of what it considers to be a small business is drawing criticism from entrepreneurs who would be forced to compete against much larger firms for government contracts. The proposal from the Small Business Administration, released last month, would increase the amount of revenue a business can take in while still being considered small by a factor of 10 or more in some instances.
Federal Procurement Rises Ahead of Fiscal Year Closeout Rush
Go Deeper Sept. 8, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC Federal procurement spending is billions of dollars ahead of last year’s pace, as the market prepares for a final push to obligate expiring funds in the final month of fiscal 2026. Civilian agencies spent more than $291 billion in the first 11 months of fiscal 2026, which is within $2.4 billion of the fiscal 2025 full-year total. September 2025 spending topped $152 billion, accounting for one-fifth of annual obligations that year.
Federal Procurement Rises Ahead of Fiscal Year Closeout Rush
Federal procurement spending is billions of dollars ahead of last year’s pace, as the market prepares for a final push to obligate expiring funds in the final month of fiscal 2026. Civilian agencies spent more than $291 billion in the first 11 months of fiscal 2026, which is within $2.4 billion of the fiscal 2025 full-year total. September 2025 spending topped $152 billion, accounting for one-fifth of annual obligations that year.
DHS Sole-Source Contracting is Boosting New Market Participants Original
Go Deeper Aug. 31, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC Nearly $12 billion of sole-source procurement by the Department of Homeland Security contributed to the agency spending already more than twice as much on contracts as last year, with a month to go in fiscal 2026. Of the sole-source spending, $9.8 billion went to new work, with the rest going to contracts that started before this fiscal year, according to Bloomberg Government analysis.
BGOV OnPoint: Midterm Flip Could Shake Up Federal Contracting Original
Go Deeper Aug. 25, 2026, 9:01 AM UTC A Democratic win in November’s midterms would unlock investigations into the Trump administration’s no-bid contracts, equity stakes in private firms, and deals with artificial intelligence companies. It also could upend federal procurement policy that has in recent years been driven by Republican demands for faster acquisition of weapons and governmentwide preference for commercial goods and services.
The Data Behind Congress’ $250 Billion Defense Procurement Plans
Scroll through the analysis for interactive charts and a link to a subscriber-exclusive downloadable spreadsheet detailing authorization levels. Reaching a deal on a fiscal 2027 national defense authorization measure will be a top priority for Congress when lawmakers return to Washington in the fall.
Legal Services Contractors Replaced by Noncompeted Award for Now
The Department of Health and Human Services has pivoted from a billion-dollar procurement opportunity in favor of a $150 million sole-source cooperative agreement to a law firm with Trump administration ties. The intent to award a cooperative agreement — a form of federal funding not governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation — for legal services for unaccompanied migrant children came days after a disputed contract expired in July.
Legal Services Contractors Replaced by Noncompeted Award for Now
The Department of Health and Human Services has pivoted from a billion-dollar procurement opportunity in favor of a $150 million sole-source cooperative agreement to a law firm with Trump administration ties. The intent to award a cooperative agreement — a form of federal funding not governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation — for legal services for unaccompanied migrant children came days after a disputed contract expired in July.
Contracting in Civilian R&D Market Ticking Up After DOGE Slump Original
Civilian agencies have invested fewer contracting dollars into research and development in the last several years but spending is up slightly so far in fiscal 2026 compared to 2025. Awards have totaled $13.8 billion as of July 31, compared to $13.6 billion at the same point last year, according to Bloomberg Government analysis.
New Vendors Join Top Small Businesses Doing Civilian Agency Work Original
Centrus Energy Corp. and General Matter Inc. lead among small businesses contracting with non-defense agencies in the federal government through nearly 10 months of fiscal 2026, with the end-of-fiscal-year rush of procurement approaching. The civilian small business procurement market is bouncing back from a fiscal 2025 slump. Civilian agency contracting with small businesses is up nearly 9% from the same time last year, totaling $47.6 billion through July 23.
Federal Law Enforcement Needs Private Sector Blockchain Services Original
Chainalysis is the leading vendor for federal acquisition of blockchain-related technology and services, accounting for more than three-quarters of the procurement market since fiscal 2023, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. The niche but growing market for the emerging technology tops $31 million so far in fiscal 2026, tracking increased demand from law enforcement offices for digital asset software analytics services and products.
Palantir Wins Big Using Expanded Commercial Procurement Option Original
Defense Department spending through commercial solutions openings topped $300 million in the first half of fiscal 2026 after Congress dropped restrictions on the contracting method in December, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. Growth of the unclassified commercial solutions market in the first half of the fiscal year was driven by expanded use of the authority by the Air Force, accounting for 85% of spending so far. Palantir Technologies Inc.
BGOV OnPoint: Civilian Agency Procurement Heads Toward Record Original
Fiscal 2026 civilian agency procurement is forecast to bounce back from a dip the previous year — and potentially set a record for non-defense contract spending, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. The forecast suggests a full-year fiscal 2026 civilian contract spending level of $315 billion. Ahead of the expected end-of-year procurement rush in the fourth quarter, spending through the third fiscal quarter is up 27% from the same period last year.
FEMA Contract Spending Down Billions From Recent Years’ Levels Original
The primary agency responsible for national preparedness and disaster response has spent 92% less on procurement in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026 than in the same period last year, according to a Bloomberg Government analysis. One month into the Atlantic hurricane season and nearing the end of the third fiscal quarter, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is reporting $310 million in contract spending. That’s billions behind recent fiscal years.
States Secure Nearly $1 Billion Ahead of World Cup, America 250 Original
The 11 states co-hosting the men’s FIFA 2026 World Cup matches in the US secured more than $847 million ahead of the tournament next month, accounting for more than 90% of federal spending on large scale events occurring this summer, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. Most World Cup funding relied on two Federal Emergency Management Agency grants funded by the Republicans’ 2025 reconciliation law (Public Law 119-21).
Starlink, Satellite Sales Drive SpaceX Sales to Federal Agencies Original
SpaceX accounts for the most federal revenue of Elon Musk-owned companies registered to do business with the government, and its procurement footprint accounts for nearly all of the $12.8 billion total since fiscal 2023. NASA and the Defense Department are SpaceX‘s main buyers. The company is a key provider of space launch services. Nearly 43% of SpaceX contracting dollars were awarded by DOD from fiscal 2023 through 2025.
Top AI Companies Have $19 Billion Federal Contracting Footprint Original
Of the 25 companies included in Bloomberg Government’s interactive AI Influence Map, 21 collectively sold $19.6 billion to the federal government in fiscal 2025. The map focuses on the most influential companies — frontier labs, legacy tech firms, and chipmakers and suppliers — shaping AI policy. Defense Department procurement accounted for $9.1 billion of the total, or 46% of the market footprint. Companies newer to the federal market such as SpaceX, Anduril Industries Inc., and Scale AI Inc.
Tech Firms, Defense Giants Scoop Up Accelerated R&D Funding Original
Anduril, Northrop Grumman, and several contractor consortium groups are among the biggest winners of accelerated research and development procurement spending so far in fiscal 2026, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. Accelerated R&D using other transaction agreements, or OTAs, is a key element of the Trump administration’s defense acquisition overhauls. OTAs shorten buying time and are aimed at attracting nontraditional companies by eliminating some standard procurement requirements.
Anduril’s Border Surveillance Tower Leads R&D Program Contracts Original
Anduril rocketed past other tech companies in a federally funded small business innovation investment program when it secured a US Border Patrol delivery order worth at least $367 million in December. The one order has led to a roughly 450% higher aggregate level of civilian agency obligations under the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer, or SBIR and STTR, programs compared to the same point in fiscal 2025.
NASA Health Support Contracts Spike Before Artemis II Launch Original
NASA spending on astronaut health-care services jumped more than 9,000% before the Artemis II launch in April, though it wasn’t enough to prevent a medical market-wide slip in contracting dollars in the first half of fiscal 2026, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. The Johnson Space Center awarded $88.8 million to SGT Inc.
Federal Consulting Contracts Market Bounced Back From DOGE Spree Original
The market for professional services at civilian agencies is growing for the first time since the start of the second Trump administration, according to Bloomberg Government analysis of procurement data. Fiscal 2026 spending in the market has reached $18.7 billion, which is within half a percentage point of fiscal 2025’s level this far through the year.
BGOV OnPoint: Q1, Q2 DHS Spending Spike Boosts Agency Contracts Original
Department of Homeland Security border enforcement operations drove strong first-half fiscal year procurement spending for civilian agencies, according to Bloomberg Government analysis of preliminary data. Procurement for agencies other than the Pentagon totaled $139 billion so far this fiscal year, up 24% from the same period last year. Obligations had stalled in fiscal 2025 as agencies navigated changes to federal procurement implemented by the Trump administration.
Pentagon Taps Palantir for Accelerated Commercial Procurement Original
Palantir leads its competitors in winning Defense Department contracts under a new method for procuring innovative commercial technology. The company won $27 million in unclassified obligations for software licenses and application development in fiscal 2025, making up 40% of unclassified commercial solutions opening procurement dollars, according to Bloomberg Government data.
IT Buying Consolidation Slows Use of Governmentwide Contracts Original
Agencies slowed new awards and spent more on already established contracts in fiscal 2025 as the White House directed federal agencies to consolidate more purchases on governmentwide vehicles run by the General Services Administration. An executive order in March 2025 pushed the centralization of procurement of common goods and services, including IT purchases, at GSA. The administration’s goal is to reduce contract duplication and increase efficiency.
Pentagon Buying More Commercial Counter-Drone Technologies Original
Unclassified procurement of commercial counter-drone systems tripled in fiscal 2025 from the previous year’s levels as governmentwide demand for the technology grows and availability of commercial off-the-shelf technology reduces costs.
Pentagon Boosted Guided Missile Procurement Before Iran Strikes Original
The Defense Department awarded $18.4 billion in unclassified spending for missile defense systems in fiscal 2025, with procurement for guided missiles within that market increasing by 52% from the previous year’s levels, according to a Bloomberg Government analysis. The Pentagon’s arsenal of air and missile interceptors is under scrutiny after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which responded with attacks on US bases and allies that have depleted US stockpiles.
AI Sales to US Agencies Run on Off-the-Shelf, Not Custom, Deals Original
Federal agencies are increasingly buying AI products and services, and they’re doing it by purchasing what’s commercially available. The full AI market topped $2.2 billion in unclassified procurement in fiscal 2025, according to Bloomberg Government analysis, and the subset of commercial purchases backed that growth.
Federal Contractor Giants Dominate, Tier of Small Firms Shrinks Original
The largest government vendors tightened their grip on the $810 billion federal procurement market as companies with lower contracting revenue dropped out of competition. The total number of federal contractors fell 3% in fiscal 2025 from the previous year’s levels, with most of the loss coming from the largest cohort of vendors: companies with less than $50 million in annual prime contract obligations.
Federal Immunity Shields Private Companies Detaining Migrants
States have limited ability to respond to sweeping immigration enforcement as prison companies use their relationship with ICE to shield themselves from regulation. Prison contractors successfully convinced two federal appeals courts that their federal contracts entitled them to immunity from being directly regulated or interfered with by states. They sued over laws to regulate or ban private immigration detention in California, Illinois, Washington, and New Jersey.
ICE Taps Multi-Billion Pentagon Logistics Contract for Work Original
The Department of Homeland Security is expanding its use of a $55 billion military logistics contract for immigration operations — most recently to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge activities in St. Paul, Minn. ICE awarded Response AI Solutions LLC a $2.6 million contract Feb. 9 to meet an urgent demand for supplies and services for law enforcement activities in St. Paul.
BGOV OnPoint: Spending With Small Vendors Dropped, Missed Goals Original
Small federal contractors won less work in fiscal 2025 during a year packed with uncertainty following Trump administration procurement overhaul initiatives. Agencies across the government spent $171.5 billion with small vendors, down 3% from the previous year, as procurement levels in leading markets such as professional services and IT obligations fell.
Federal 8(a) Vendor Count Ticked Up Before Suspensions Announced Original
The number of socio-economically disadvantaged vendors selling to federal agencies ticked up slightly in fiscal 2025 while the amount of money spent governmentwide with the group declined, according to Bloomberg Government analysis. Contractor firms majority-owned and controlled by a person in a socially and economically disadvantaged demographic group can be certified to participate in the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development program.
Consultants Hurt as Civilian Agencies Reel in Annual Spending Original
Most of the top federal consulting firms saw their annual contracting dollars fall in fiscal 2025 as federal agencies were advised to cut back on procurement. Total governmentwide contract obligations in the management advisory services market dipped by 19% to its lowest level in the last five fiscal years.
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