EXPECT MORE ACTIVITY AS SENATE STAYS IN SESSION

Even if you’re not directly involved in government affairs, you’ll likely feel the impact of the Senate’s decision to stay in session for the first three weeks of August.  So many people in and around Washington, D.C. are at least tangentially related to what Congress does that the traditional slow-down may not happen much, if at all. Thousands of people who ordinarily leave town when Congress is out of session will be here.  For contractors, that means that not only should business be brisk, but that there may be more opportunities for meetings and discussions with federal officials on things like strategy and policy.  This means a better chance at speaking to new(er) appointees, developing longer-term business relationships, and strengthening ties with industry partners.  August could become a time to develop an edge on competitors that could drive benefits both short and long-term.  In the meantime, the Senate will be working on federal budget issues, the backlog of appointees, and the important Defense Authorization Act for FY’18.  These, too, are of high interest to government contractors.  While we may all miss the days of light traffic, there will be plenty going on this summer that will impact your federal business.