The White House taps Elon Musk to lead a sweeping audit of the Pentagon, predicting the billionaire will uncover “hundreds of billions” in fraud and waste. Speaking in a Super Bowl interview with Fox News, President Trump suggested Musk’s next stop might be the Department of Education before turning to the military’s massive budget, which nears $1 trillion annually. The decision adds another layer to Musk’s expanding government role, as the White House previously acknowledged him as a special employee tasked with shrinking the federal workforce. Whether this audit is a game-changing accountability measure or just headline fodder remains to be seen—but in Washington, it’s sure to spark a firestorm.
Layoffs: USAID Contractors
Government contractors are feeling the squeeze as federal funding cuts ripple through the private sector. Chemonics International, a major player in international development, has furloughed more than 600 U.S. workers, with another 300 employees seeing reduced hours due to a stop-work order on USAID-funded projects. DAI Global, based in Bethesda, Maryland, has also taken a hit, placing nearly 400 employees—roughly 70% of its U.S. workforce—on furlough as it waits for millions in unpaid invoices.
While the broader job market remains strong, the uncertainty surrounding federal contracts has already upended lives. Workers in global development, defense, and energy consulting are among the hardest hit, with layoffs spreading from Virginia to Washington state. For many, the question isn’t just where to find their next job—but whether the industry itself will stabilize anytime soon.
Hiring: Celestar Corporation
For cleared professionals looking for their next mission, Celestar Corporation has over 140 open positions spanning multiple clearance levels and locations. With a heavy focus on Top Secret/SCI roles (124 positions) and additional openings requiring Top Secret, Secret, and DHS clearances, Celestar is actively recruiting talent to support government and defense operations.
Florida leads the hiring push with 80 positions, followed by Virginia (33), Maryland (15), Colorado (2), Nebraska (2), Massachusetts (1), and D.C. (1). As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Celestar prioritizes mission-driven professionals, many of whom bring firsthand experience from military and government service.
Cleared Employer at Work: Leidos
Leidos is seeking top talent to support critical Department of Defense (DoD) missions, delivering innovative solutions in defense systems, digital modernization, cybersecurity, and national security. Join us in advancing mission success and operational readiness for our nation’s defense.
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Opportunity to Watch
With a new administration comes new procurement policies, and industry insiders predict a renewed push toward fixed-price government contracts. While this model offers budget certainty for federal agencies, it shifts all the financial risk onto contractors—especially small businesses that can’t afford to eat unexpected costs. A recent case of a major contractor reporting significant losses on fixed-price defense programs highlights the stakes.
For those in the contracting world, the message is clear: be strategic. Contractors should push for equitable price adjustment (EPA) clauses to account for unforeseen cost spikes, negotiate reasonable performance expectations, and, where possible, set spending caps to avoid financial disaster. Contracting officers may resist these measures, but without them, fewer businesses will compete, and those that do will bid higher to offset the risk. As the procurement pendulum swings yet again, government contractors must adapt—or risk getting squeezed out.
