Government Contractors Must Use E-Verify

In a dramatic expansion of the use of the "E-Verify" system, on June 6, 2008, President Bush signed Executive Order ("EO") 12989, requiring all government contractors to use E-Verify to determine the employment eligibility of all new hires and of all employees assigned to future government contracts. While subcontractor obligations are not addressed in the EO, implementing regulations to be issued by the FAR Council and Department of Homeland Security will likely address this issue.