Let's never say "Beltway Bandits" again
The high stakes of how government treats its contractors
Regardless of what happens in today’s election, the government and its many, many contractors will depend on each other to deliver. While the stakes for making government work are high, I wrote this article in today in Federal News Network because of the personal connections I’ve had with so many federal contractors, and for how poorly I’ve seen them treated by some federal employees and the broader system they have to navigate.
Yeah some of them are a bit rascally, but so is any portion of any population. Let’s say “Beltway Bandit” no more and embrace the mission partners that government mission leaders depend on!
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From “Beltway Bandits” to mission partners
November 5, 2024
I’ve had the privilege of working with dozens upon dozens of outstanding government contractors. These highly skilled professionals and wonderful humans have been crucial to my success as a federal employee. In countless settings — be it in conference rooms, on Zoom, or otherwise — contractors and government employees work tirelessly together to serve the American people, regardless of their employment status. This story is not unique — across the government, it’s the norm.
Yet contractors are often viewed as outsiders, sometimes even labeled “Beltway Bandits,” and rarely appreciated for their contributions to the public good. This needs to change. While federal employees need to be thoughtful about the right scope of contractors, establish boundaries, and hold contractors accountable, it’s just as important to treat contractors as valued team members. Expressing appreciation and linking their work to the shared mission isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s vital to our collective success. And who knows, it might just inspire even more contractors to join the ranks of federal employees, too.