Some would have you believe that the biggest mistake companies make when targeting government contracts is underestimating how different – and difficult – government operations can be. They point to longer timelines, more decision-makers and special regulations that impede or complicate the purchasing process.

Just about the time you accept we are going to have to live with the Trump tariffs, he hits the pause button and makes a few deals. And just like that, we are in Whiplash Wonderland. Or some might say, Never-Never Land.

While there is no official, disaggregated figure for the number of government contracting officers who have retired, quit, or been fired in 2025, the available evidence shows that contracting officers are among the many federal employees (between 250,000 - 300,000) affected by sweeping workforce reductions, hiring freezes and early retirement programs.

For all the worrying, and there is a lot of it, there is no real assurance that the federal government will – in the end – reduce overall spending. In fact, if the past is an indicator of the future, it will likely increase spending.  Spending Trends: A Look Back  During President Trump’s first swing at the fences (2017-2021), government spending increased significantly.

My dad, Dennis Senior, and my oldest brother, Dennis Junior, were both proud members of the Cleveland Police Department. Meanwhile, my mom, Marge, and my youngest brother, Shawn, were both managers of multiple Cleveland recreation centers. The value they all brought to their jobs and the communities they served was immeasurable.

Whether you are a marketing decision-maker for a private sector business or a government agency (Fed or SLED), the task of finding a government marketing agency partner is daunting but doable. Make the wrong decision and 6 months (and likely six figures) will be gone in the blink of an eye, leaving you farther behind than when you started.