# DCMA Requires Contractor-Hiring Recusal

A federal employee at an agency that oversees a major DoD prime contractor says the agency required them to recuse themselves from work involving the contractor after they applied for a job with it. The employee reports that a supervisor directed them to use leave or take leave without pay during the hiring process. The discussion does not establish whether reassignment is required or resolve the applicable legal or agency-policy questions.

- For agencies and contractors, the situation highlights how an employee’s job application to an entity they oversee can affect oversight assignments and workforce continuity.
- Procurement offices may need to account for recusal-related coverage when assigning contractor oversight duties; the signal does not establish that the agency must provide alternate work or require leave.
- The employee’s reported leave direction is not a definitive statement of government-wide policy. The discussion offers no resolution of the relevant personnel or ethics rules.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 01, 2026

### Government Entities
- Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

### Key Quotes
> If someone voluntarily creates a conflict for themselves that requires recusal from all of their job, no it’s not on the agency to find new work for them.
> — Community commenter

> Our agency solely oversees/surveils this Prime contractor.
> — Original poster

### Sources
- [Forced to take leave or go LWOP during Disqualification Perido?](https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1wv37pt/forced_to_take_leave_or_go_lwop_during) - reddit-fednews