Like Clinton, Obama Calls for Fewer Federal Contractors to Cut Spending

Washington Post Staff Writer Like every newly elected president, Barack Obama has spelled out an agenda for how his administration will improve the use of taxpayer money. But as he pushes reforms of the government's $440 billion federal procurement system, he faces tremendous obstacles to success, according to contracting specialists, lawyers and industry officials. During the campaign, Obama and vice-president elect Joseph Biden pledged to reverse years-long trends, including pork barrel spending by Congress, the tendency of government employees to leave to work for government contractors and a sharp rise in the use of no-bid contracts. Obama also wants to make federal buying systems more efficient and said he would reduce federal spending by $40 billion by using fewer contractors. Contracting specialists, former federal... [read full story]