Cordatis challenges USAID’s termination of the Payne Fellowship Program

A Cordatis team consisting of Josh Schnell and Sam Van Kopp filed a class action complaint in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims challenging USAID’s termination of the Payne Fellowship Program. Established in 2012, the Payne Fellowship Program is is a highly selective recruiting tool that the USAID uses to recruit elite college graduates from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds into the Foreign Service. Click here to read the complaint.

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Client Alert: Implementing New Foreign Assistance Regulations

In late January, the U.S. Department of State published three final rules implementing the Protecting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance Policy (PHFFA Policy). Effective February 26, 2026, these rules introduce new conduct restrictions, operational requirements, and compliance obligations for organizations receiving U.S. foreign assistance. Click the link for our client alert on these new requirements.
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Josh Schnell elected to the Board of Governors of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Bar Association

Partner Josh Schnell was recently elected to the Board of Governors of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC) Bar Association. Since its founding in 1987, the COFC Bar Association has supported the Court and promoted justice in disputes between the United States government and its citizens.
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AP – “Some Native Americans draw shocked response over contract to design immigration detention centers”

Josh Schnell was interviewed by the Associated Press regarding allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse in 8(a) set-aside contracts. In the article, which focuses on Department of Homeland Security sole-source 8(a) contracts, Josh stressed the importance of competition and transparency in federal contracting. Click the link to read the article in Politico.