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Cybersecurity / Zero Trust

Executive Orders Mandate Zero Trust and AI Cybersecurity, Driving Billions in Federal IT Contracts

Tracked since Jan 22, 2025Latest record Aug 31, 2026Narrative updated Sep 2, 2026, 5:13 AM ET
Independent channels
5
Records, last 90 days
78
Records, all time
126
Named federal contracts
$2.5B
38 federal contracts25 bills12 procurement notices2 executive actions1 patent

The setup

The US government is rapidly accelerating its cybersecurity posture, driven by two recent Executive Orders that mandate enhanced security for federal systems and critical infrastructure. This has translated into billions of dollars in new and extended contracts for IT and cybersecurity services, with a particular focus on zero-trust architectures and AI-powered defense. The legislative branch is also moving to reinforce these efforts, signaling a sustained push for advanced cybersecurity across all federal operations.

How this developed

  1. Apr 1, 2025VA awards Dell Federal Systems L.P. a $1.0B contract for a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, supporting IT modernization and cybersecurity.Federal contract
  2. May 9, 2025SAIC secures a $135M contract for IT and cybersecurity support to the Department of State.Federal contract
  3. Jan 13, 2026H.R. 2683, the Remote Access Security Act, passes the House, expanding export controls to remote access and mandating stricter security.Bill
  4. Mar 20, 2026Lockheed Martin Corporation receives a $633M contract for CLS, engineering, instruction, cybersecurity, and DMO from the Air Force.Federal contract
  5. Apr 7, 2026CACI, Inc. - Federal receives a $708M option exercise for Dynamic and Evolving Federal Enterprise Network Defense (DEFEND).Federal contract
  6. Jun 2, 2026Executive Order on Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security directs agencies to prioritize cybersecurity hardening and establishes an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse.Executive action
  7. Jun 12, 2026Presidential Memorandum re-establishes the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) to enforce baseline cybersecurity standards across all National Security Systems.Executive action
  8. Jul 7, 2026CGI Federal Inc. receives a $336M contract for Dynamic and Evolving Federal Enterprise Network Defense (DEFEND C).Federal contract
  9. Aug 31, 2026General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. receives a $19.6M contract for Enterprise Network Operations and Cybersecurity Support (ENOCS).Federal contract
  10. Aug 31, 2026Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. receives a $365M contract for Dynamic and Evolving Federal Enterprise Network Defense (DEFEND B).Federal contract

Why it matters

  • Two Executive Orders (E9, E10) in June 2026 significantly escalated federal cybersecurity requirements, mandating hardening of systems, establishing an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse, and enforcing baseline standards across all National Security Systems.
  • The passage of H.R. 2683 (E4) in the House signals a legislative push to mandate stricter remote access security, creating a compliance-driven upgrade cycle for zero-trust and endpoint security solutions.
  • Over $2.2 billion in federal contracts (E1, E2, E5, E6, E8, E11, E13, E14) have been awarded or extended since April 2025 for IT and cybersecurity services, demonstrating a clear and accelerating investment in modernizing federal network defenses.
  • The Department of Defense, through the Air Force (E5, E7), is actively seeking advanced cybersecurity solutions, including an 'Integrated Defensive Cyberspace System' (E7), indicating a focus on real-time threat analysis and network defense.

What to watch

Watch for H.R. 2683 to move through the Senate Banking Committee, as its passage would create a regulatory mandate for companies to upgrade remote access security. Also, monitor for specific Binding Operational Directives from CISA following the June 2026 Executive Order (E9).

Named in a federal contract

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