Viewpoint: Rising Suspensions and Debarments Among Federal Contractors Is Good News for Taxpayers

Deputy Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella writes that in 2019, DOL issued 125 suspensions and 130 debarments, a significant increase over the last several years combined. “Between 2016 and 2017, we increased the number of suspensions from zero to eight, and debarments from one to 17,” Pizzella says. “In 2018, we imposed a total of 21 suspensions and 15 debarments. To build on this momentum and save more taxpayer money from going to irresponsible business partners, we also started a pilot program to make the suspension and debarment process more efficient…. This pilot program has helped us more effectively identify problems in need of action.”