Five steps to make commercial-first government work
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ByIrina Denisenko,
CEO, Knox Systems
May 13, 2026 03:56 PM ET
COMMENTARY | Recent federal mandates make clear that the status quo is no longer acceptable.
The White House’s April 2025 Executive Order, reinforced last month by Memorandum M-26-12, marks a decisive shift in how the federal government approaches technology acquisition.
For years, agencies have been encouraged to prioritize commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions, yet entrenched procurement practices have continued to favor costly, time-intensive custom builds. The new mandate makes clear that this status quo is no longer acceptable.
Directing agencies to increase the use of commercial products and services (and to justify when they do not) signals a broader effort to align federal technology strategy with the speed, scale and innovation of the private sector.
Turning this policy into measurable outcomes will require more than intent; it will require practical and structural changes in...
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