The Trump Administration: The First 100 Days

Watching how a new presidential administration transitions and the earliest actions it takes on its highest priorities, i.e. its first 100 days, has become a staple of American politics since FDR. The Federal Market Analysis (FMA) team thought that we would take a look at the Trump Administration’s first 100 days primarily from the perspective of how it might impact the federal contracting community.

Trump Administration: The First 100 Days

Our report explores the actions, efforts, and policy initiatives the Trump Administration has taken in its first 100 days and the contracting marketplace implications for the future. The analysis assesses the numerous Executive Orders (EO), Memoranda, and policy directives that the President and other officials have issued in the early days of the Administration. The analysis also highlights Trump Administration discretionary budget priorities for the remainder of FY 2017 and for FY 2018 and beyond.

In addition, we look at the Trump Administration’s actions, efforts and progress in the following areas deemed as high priorities within its first 100 days:

• Defense and Homeland Security
• Immigration
• Health Care
• Criminal Justice
• Regulatory Reform
• Economy and Trade
• Government Operations
• Infrastructure

Conclusions and Implications

President Trump signed more bills into law in his first 100 days than his last three predecessors, but the impact may be muted as execution challenges emerge. Furthermore, although a majority of campaign promises have been addressed via order or memorandum, no legislation was passed specifically fulfilling campaign promises within the hundred-day period.

Executive orders and memos released within the first 100 days centered largely around information gathering and rescinding Obama-era rules, with minimal emphasis on IT and federal procurement. Executive orders to reorganize the federal government leave considerable latitude to agencies to determine strategies.

The White House Office of American Innovation (OAI) could be central to reinvigorating and driving new efforts in IT modernization, category management and digital services. The scope of the OAI’s initiatives is broad, so it is likely that its members will rely heavily on existing frameworks to maximize resources and ensure progress. Contractors should take advantages of opportunities to engage with OAI in an effort to positively influence its direction.

The American Technology Council (ATC) was established to promote the secure, efficient, and economical use of government information technology. It is likely that this council will be essential in quickening the modernization of government information technology. The President will have a direct role in the transformation to efficient government technology through future policies and legislation. The scope of the council will likely include and influence the acquisition of information technology products and services. Contractors should take advantages of opportunities to engage with members of the ATC in an effort to positively influence its direction.

Although the focus of “Buy American and Hire American” centers on manufacturing, raw materials and infrastructure, implications for IT components and contracted services may raise costs, impact schedules, and increase scrutiny of IT contractors.

The pace of nominations for DOD component leadership has left several key positions unfilled at this point and it is unclear how this will impact readiness modernization priorities.

Congressional political resistance to border wall efforts and seed-funding request in FY 2017 budget amendment is one of the most visible challenges to the new administration’s agenda priorities. That said, DHS is using what latitude they have to move forward on several borders security fronts, some of which have technology components.

Although some change is happening, for now it’s been mostly business as usual in the contracting community. Efforts to modernize IT infrastructure and others to decrease the size of government may create additional contracting opportunities in the coming months.

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Read the full report: Trump Administration: The First 100 Days. (Your Deltek member login and password are required to view the report.)