Insights

Washington – July 15, 2026: Crowell & Moring has added Google’s former Regulatory Affairs Counsel for Global Legislative Oversight, James Bair, as a partner and Head of Congressional Investigations in the White Collar and Regulatory Enforcement practice in Washington, D.C. 

Last week’s midterm election results have catalyzed swift statements on the congressional oversight agenda of potential incoming leadership, and oversight of the U.S. Department of War (DoW)1 — and the defense companies with which it does business — is high on the list. On November 4, 2026, Rep. Adam Smith sent a letter to his Democratic colleagues seeking their support to serve as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) in the 120th Congress convening in January 2027. Rep. Smith identifies “vigorous oversight” of the DoW and the Trump administration as his top priority if he is given the gavel, and his agenda expressly includes examining “contracts and other financial support awarded to private companies to ensure they are in the best interest of the taxpayers, are free from conflicts of interest or favoritism, and were awarded consistent with legal authorities and procedures.” 

It has been an eventful summer for followers of congressional oversight, with significant implications for individuals and organizations of all stripes. As we move closer to the midterms and then the 2028 general election, private entities both in the U.S. and overseas will find themselves increasingly pulled into the middle of clashes between Republicans and Democrats — and those disputes are inevitable, regardless of election outcome.

On October 15, 2026, Partners James Bair, Sharmi Das, Matthew F. Ferraro, and Tyler A. O’Connor convened an in-person Congressional simulation with clients at the firm’s Chicago office. This dynamic, hands-on experience provided participants with a first-hand view of the complexities of investigations conducted by the U.S. Congress. Participants explored the realities of Congressional engagement, from responding to a request or a subpoena to managing witness preparation and public communications.

This is a special edition focusing on congressional investigations and the risk for government contractors in today’s environment, and is hosted by Peter Eyre and Jamie Bair. Crowell & Moring’s “Fastest 5 Minutes” is a biweekly podcast that provides a brief summary of significant government contracts legal and regulatory developments that no government contracts lawyer or executive should be without.