Welcome to this week's Department of Defense update. Our top story: The DOD has released new guidance on "situational telework" as agencies move to comply with the Trump administration's recent mandate for in-person work.The memo, penned by Darin Selnick, who's performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, establishes clear guidelines for situational telework to ensure an efficient return to in-person work. This comes after President Trump directed all agency chiefs to essentially stop allowing employees to telework and require workforces to return to the office.The guidance states that supervisors may authorize situational telework solely when it "serves a compelling Agency need." Selnick emphasized that it "should be intermittent and not authorized as a substitute for routine or recurring telework."This policy shift has sparked confusion among public servants, partially due to reports of insufficient physical facility space to house all federal employees. It also challenges the government's historical use of remote work options as recruitment incentives.In other news, the continuing resolution funding the federal government and DOD for fiscal year 2025 is set to expire on March 14. If Congress fails to pass full-year appropriations or extend the CR, a government shutdown will occur. The House has passed a bill to extend the CR through the end of the fiscal year, but Senate Democrats are pushing for a shorter extension to April 11.On the cyber front, Mark Gorak, principal director for resources and analysis in the DOD's CIO office, sees the current transition as an opportunity to modernize the department's cyber workforce. He's focusing on moving towards skills-based hiring and defining specific knowledge and abilities needed for each of the DOD's 73 cybersecurity roles.In contracting news, BAE Systems was awarded a $356 million modification for Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles, while Lockheed Martin received a $1.9 billion modification for missile production.Looking ahead, the DOD is preparing its budget request for fiscal year 2026. The proposed budget for 2025 totals $850 billion, with projections showing it could climb to $866 billion by 2026.For American citizens, these developments signal potential changes in government operations and defense priorities. Businesses and organizations working with the DOD should prepare for possible shifts in contracting and workforce policies. State and local governments may need to adjust to changes in federal telework policies and potential impacts of a government shutdown.As we wrap up, key events to watch include the March 14 deadline for government funding and ongoing negotiations for full-year appropriations. For more information on these topics, visit defense.gov or follow the DOD's official social media channels.That's all for this week's update. Stay informed, stay engaged, and we'll see you next time.This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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