We are pleased to announce that nine attorneys from Blank Rome’s nationally recognized Government Contracts group have been appointed to leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) Public Contract Law Section for the 2026–2027 term.
Visit our website to learn more about their roles and ABA’s Section of Public Contract Law.
Robyn N. Burrows, Michael J. Montalbano, and Justin A. Chiarodo ●
On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued its much-anticipated decision in Anthropic PBC v. U.S. Department of War, No. 26-1049, upholding the Department of War’s (“DOW”) exclusion of Anthropic’s Claude artificial intelligence (“AI”) models from its supply chain under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018 (“FASCSA”), 41 U.S.C. § 4713. The ruling means the Government may continue its efforts to require contractors to cease the use of Anthropic as part of the performance of federal contracts. This post summarizes the decision and steps contractors should consider taking in response.
As we covered in our prior blog post, the dispute between Anthropic and the federal government began with a contract disagreement over AI usage restrictions (Anthropic held a $200 million Pentagon contract and was the first frontier AI company to deploy models on classified government networks). Anthropic maintained two “red lines”: it refused to allow its Claude AI model to be used for mass domestic surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons systems. When the DOW demanded that Anthropic agree to “all lawful use” of its technology without these restrictions, Anthropic refused. On February 27, 2026, President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on social media their intention to remove Anthropic from the federal supply chain.
On March 3, 2026, Secretary Hegseth issued a formal determination under FASCSA to take covered procurement actions against Anthropic, finding that the continued integration of Claude into DOW systems presented a “significant supply chain risk,” that removal was “necessary to protect national security,” and that no “less intrusive measures” were “reasonably available.” The Secretary also determined that an “urgent national security interest” required immediate action. The DOW’s Chief Information Officer then ordered removal of all Anthropic products from DOW systems within 180 days and prohibited contractors from using Anthropic products in DOW work.
Continue reading “D.C. Circuit Upholds the Anthropic Ban: What It Means for Federal Contractors”
We are proud to announce that Blank Rome’s attorneys and practices were highly ranked across several categories in the 2026 Chambers USA rankings, which reflect our high level of integrated services for government contractors and companies in the Aerospace, Defense and Government Services sector.
Our Government Contracts practice was ranked in Band 2 in Government Contracts: The Elite, USA, again placing our team among the top 10 law firms in the nationwide rankings.
Our False Claims Act practice and partner Jennifer A. Short were ranked in False Claims Act, USA – Nationwide. An FCA reference told Chambers, “The attorneys really understand the factual issues and really bat for us.”
Partners Anthony Rapa and Kenneth Nunnenkamp, who serve clients impacted by tectonic changes in the international business environment, were both ranked in International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions.
To view all of Blank Rome’s Chambers USA 2026 rankings, please visit Chambers USA 2026 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices.
We are pleased to announce that a record nine attorneys from Blank Rome’s nationally recognized Government Contracts group have been appointed to leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) Public Contract Law Section for the 2025–2026 term.
Visit our website to learn more about their roles and ABA’s Section of Public Contract Law.
Blank Rome-Hosted Live Webinar
July 29, 2025
12:00–1:00 p.m. EDT | 9:00–10:00 a.m. PDT
Please join Blank Rome Government Contracts attorneys Justin A. Chiarodo, Dominique L. Casimir, Robyn N. Burrows, and Sara N. Gerber for this timely webinar with key updates for government contractors navigating the first 180 days of the Trump Administration, and the days ahead.
Topics include:
This session is part of Blank Rome’s summer live webinar series 180 Days of the Trump Administration—Quick Hits on Executive Orders, Actions, and Policies (ending on Wednesday, August, 13, 2025), where our interdisciplinary Trump Administration Resource Team is unpacking the most pressing legal, regulatory, and policy developments from the Trump administration’s first 180 days.
Click here to register for the July 29 government contractor session and for any future sessions: Summer 2025- Trump 180 Day Webinar Series | RSVP Blank.
You may also view any past sessions on demand here: On-Demand Webinar Series: 180 Days of the Trump Administration.
Blank Rome’s Government Contracts practice was ranked in Band 2 in Government Contracts: The Elite, USA in the Chambers USA 2025 rankings, placing our team among the top 10 law firms in the nationwide rankings.
Chambers quoted a government contracts reference as saying that “The firm has specialized expertise as well as a broader perspective on the issues at play.”
Chambers USA included four of our attorneys in their 2025 Government Contracts rankings: Dominique L. Casimir, Justin A. Chiarodo, Elizabeth N. Jochum, and Luke W. Meier, with Elizabeth receiving an additional ranking for “Government Contracts: Bid Protests.”
To view all of Blank Rome’s Chambers USA 2025 rankings, please visit our website.
April 29, 2025
12:00–2:00 p.m.
McLean, Virginia, or online
Blank Rome partners Anthony Rapa, partner & co-chair of the International Trade group, and Justin A. Chiarodo, partner & co-chair of the Government Contracts group, will join Sol Brody (Vice President, International Trade Licensing & Sanctions, BAE Systems, Inc.) to present the Association of Corporate Counsel National Capital Region’s (“ACC NCR”) hybrid event, “Export Controls Amid Evolving Trump 2.0 Trade Dynamics: Policy Updates and Best Practices,” on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The event will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. in McLean, Virginia, with a virtual participation option available.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
This hybrid (in-person and online) program will cover up-to-the minute developments in the export controls landscape, one of the linchpins of the Trump administration’s national security strategy and “America First” trade policy. This will include the latest regarding semiconductor export controls, controls relating to emerging technologies, China-focused restrictions, anticipated Russia-related developments, ramped-up government enforcement, and best practices in an ever-changing environment.
For more information and to register, please visit the registration page and select the “Speaker/Panelist” registration option to register for free.
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Government Contracts partners Dominique L. Casimir and Justin A. Chiarodo have been named to Law360’s 2025 Editorial Advisory Boards. As board members, the partners will provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and share insights on how to best shape future coverage.
Dominique, who serves as co-chair of Blank Rome’s General Litigation practice group, has been named to Law360’s 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Advisory Board. In 2022, she served on Law360’s Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board.
Justin, who serves as chair of our firm’s Aerospace, Defense & Government Services industry team and co-chair of our firm’s Government Contracts practice group, has been named to Law360’s Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board for the third time.
Learn more about other Blank Rome partners serving on Law360’s 2025 Editorial Advisory Boards on our website.
Dominique L. Casimir, Justin A. Chiarodo, and David L. Bodner ●
On February 26, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (“EO”) that states that it “commences a transformation in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to ensure Government spending is transparent and Government employees are accountable to the American public.” Here’s what government contractors need to know.
Who Does the EO Apply To?
The EO is primarily directed at Agency Heads and contemplates that each Agency Head will work closely with its Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”) Team Lead on a number of activities intended to reduce federal spending and root out fraud, waste, and abuse. (On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed EO 14158 establishing DOGE and requiring each agency to have a DOGE Team Lead to “advise their respective Agency Heads on implementing the President’s DOGE Agenda.”).
Continue reading “President Trump Signs New Executive Order: “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Cost Efficiency Initiative”—What Federal Contractors Need to Know”Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that eight attorneys from the firm’s nationally recognized Government Contracts group have been appointed to leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section for the 2024–2025 term.
Visit our website to learn more about their roles and the Section of Public Contract Law.
