On September 22, 2015, multiple publication including Federal Times, Federal News Radio, and Washington Technology featured quotes from Venable partner John Cooney on the possibility of a government shutdown on federal contractors. Cooney was participating in a panel discussion at an event hosted by the Professional Services Council earlier this week.
"The president has won every shutdown battle with Congress that there has ever been," said Cooney according to Federal Times. "For the people in Congress who are considering creating an impasse now... my question [is this]: ‘What are you going to do different than what your predecessors did?" He added, "You are essentially in a position of trying to make a frontal assault on a prepared position… What the White House does perfectly is it has a public relations plan ready to make Congress look awkward."
If a shutdown occurs, Cooney predicted it would look similar to the one from 2013 and not the ones of the 1990s. "What the White House does perfectly is it has a public relations plan ready to make Congress look awkward," he said according to Federal News Radio. "What the White House does perfectly is it has a public relations plan ready to make Congress look awkward." Cooney advised contractors to examine their contracts closely and stay in close contact with agency officials to determine next steps.