May 21, 2025 — In a move to rein in government inefficiency and protect taxpayer dollars, President Trump launched the most significant update to federal purchasing rules in over four decades on April 16. To support that initiative, on May 6, the General Services Administration (GSA) published the new Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) page at Acquisition.gov. The RFO’s goal is to modernize the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the rulebook agencies follow when buying everything from software to military equipment.
This effort, directed under Executive Order, is being led by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) in partnership with the GSA, Department of Defense (DoD), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as members of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council. The RFO website promotes transparency in the deregulation process and aligns with the efforts to accelerate procurement, reduce costs and increase competition, says OMB.
The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Initiative intends to eliminate unnecessary regulations, speed up procurement and enable agencies to deliver better results with fewer resources. The overhaul will:
- Eliminate non-statutory and duplicative regulations;
- Remove DEI and “wokeness;” and
- Remove burdensome requirements and adopt straightforward buyer guides.
The overhaul changes how the government partners with the private sector to accelerate innovation and promote competition, says GSA. It puts the focus only on what’s legally required, and trimming excess, to provide value for taxpayers.
To support immediate progress, the FAR Council will issue streamlined versions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to help agencies start “buying smarter” right away. These simplified rules will be published on the new FAR Overhaul page at Acquisition.gov. The goal is a competitive and responsive federal marketplace.
In addition to regulatory reform, the initiative includes the development of buying guides — practical, category-specific resources that help agencies make better purchasing decisions in areas like technology, infrastructure and national defense. The first guide will focus on Software as a Service (SaaS), with more to follow.
These resources are being built with feedback from the acquisition workforce and will evolve into interactive tools that deliver real-time guidance and insights. The RFO Initiative invites public input. Everyone will be able to track updates and offer feedback through Acquisition.gov, ensuring the process remains transparent and accountable. Feedback will help shape formal rule changes and ensure the final system works in practice, not just on paper, says GSA.
For more information and ongoing updates, visit the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul page at Acquisition.gov.