On March 26, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that defense contractor MORSECORP Inc. (MORSE) will pay $4.6 million to settle allegations that MORSE violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements and subsequently submitting false or fraudulent claims for payment in its contracts with the Departments of the Army and Air Force. This is the first FCA settlement that is based on a defense contractor’s failure to reevaluate and promptly update its self-assessment score in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) after a third-party assessment resulted in a lower score.Continue Reading For Better or MORSE: Another Settlement Under DOJ’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative

Jacob Harrison
Jacob Harrison helps his clients navigate both domestic and international legal challenges.
Jake advises U.S. government contractors on internal investigations and state and federal regulatory compliance. His compliance practice focuses on counseling clients operating at the intersection of government contracts and cybersecurity, including for cybersecurity compliance reviews, risk assessments, and data breaches.
In his international practice, Jake represents foreign and domestic clients in Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Anti-Terrorism Act litigation. He also has experience advising clients involved in cross-border commercial arbitration proceedings.
During law school, Jake served as an associate editor of the Emory Law Journal and interned at the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia House Democratic Caucus. Before attending law school, Jake worked in politics and state government.
Canadian CMMC? Canada Proposes Cyber Compliance Regime for Canadian Defense Suppliers
On March 12, 2025, the Government of Canada announced plans to launch the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification (CPCSC). CPCSC is a cybersecurity compliance verification program that aims to protect sensitive unclassified government information handled by Canadian government contractors and subcontractors within Canada’s defense sector. Canada will roll out CPCSC to contractors in four phases, with the first phase launching this month.Continue Reading Canadian CMMC? Canada Proposes Cyber Compliance Regime for Canadian Defense Suppliers
FedRAMP 20x: Proposed Framework Aims To Increase Automation and Efficiency
On March 24, 2025, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) unveiled “FedRAMP 20x,” a proposal to make FedRAMP more efficient by automating FedRAMP security assessments and continuous monitoring, simplifying required technical controls, and leaning on industry to provide tooling and solutions to support automation. Continue Reading FedRAMP 20x: Proposed Framework Aims To Increase Automation and Efficiency
An Un[waiver]ing Commitment to CMMC: The Department of Defense Issues Guidance for Determining Assessment Levels
Amidst a flurry of executive cost-cutting, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program—often known just as “CMMC”— appears to be defying the odds and only picking up steam. Marking the first CMMC developments under the new administration, the DoD has published guidance that previews what to expect once CMMC is finalized. These developments suggest that the current administration intends to pick up where it left off, having first introduced the CMMC program during President Trump’s first term.Continue Reading An Un[waiver]ing Commitment to CMMC: The Department of Defense Issues Guidance for Determining Assessment Levels
Cyber For All: Proposed Rule Introduces Government-Wide CUI Cybersecurity Requirements
On January 15, 2025, the FAR Council released a proposed rule (FAR CUI Rule) that would amend the FAR to implement federal government-wide Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) cybersecurity, training, and incident reporting requirements for government contractors and subcontractors. The rule’s key cybersecurity requirements closely mirror the Department of Defense’s Cyber Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program (for example, compliance with National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171, Revision 2), but broaden the scope to include contractors and subcontractors working across all federal agencies. The Rule is intended to standardize the handling of CUI by federal government contractors and subcontractors in accordance with Executive Order 13556, including by:Continue Reading Cyber For All: Proposed Rule Introduces Government-Wide CUI Cybersecurity Requirements
NICE and Easy: Proposed Cybersecurity FAR Amendment Incorporates NICE Framework, Standardizing Cybersecurity Workforce Descriptions
On January 3, 2025, the FAR Council released a proposed rule titled Strengthening America’s Cybersecurity Workforce (the Proposed Rule). The Proposed Rule would amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) by standardizing workforce criteria for cybersecurity and information technology support services contracts. The Proposed Rule implements a 2019 executive order, America’s Cybersecurity Workforce, which emphasized the strategic importance of a strong cybersecurity workforce. Comments will be accepted until March 4, 2025, and the FAR Council specifically invites comments on the Proposed Rule’s impact on small entities.Continue Reading NICE and Easy: Proposed Cybersecurity FAR Amendment Incorporates NICE Framework, Standardizing Cybersecurity Workforce Descriptions
Allegations of a Litany of Lyin’: Penn State Settles Claims of Cybersecurity Noncompliance
On October 22, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) will pay $1.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by failing to comply with contractually mandated cybersecurity requirements by the Department of Defense (DoD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The announcement marks the most recent settlement under DOJ’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative although, unlike prior settlements, there is no allegation of a cybersecurity incident or breach that was related to or caused by the contractor’s alleged noncompliance.Continue Reading Allegations of a Litany of Lyin’: Penn State Settles Claims of Cybersecurity Noncompliance
CMMC Final Rule Includes M&A Trigger for New Assessment
As Crowell covered in a recent alert, the Department of Defense (DoD) on October 11, 2024 released a final rule (the “Final Program Rule”) formalizing the requirements, assessment processes, and related governance for its Cyber Maturity Model Certification Program (CMMC).Continue Reading CMMC Final Rule Includes M&A Trigger for New Assessment
Cybersecurity Matured: DoD Finalizes Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program
On October 11, 2024, the Department of Defense (DoD) released a final rule (the “Final Program Rule”) formalizing the requirements, assessment processes, and related governance for its Cyber Maturity Model Certification Program (CMMC).[1] Continue Reading Cybersecurity Matured: DoD Finalizes Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program
DFARS 7021 Clause 2.0: DoD Releases Proposed Rule Updating CMMC Clause
On August 15, 2024, the Department of Defense (“DoD”) released the long-awaited proposed rule (“August 2024 Proposed Rule”), updating Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (“DFARS”) Clause 252.204-7021 (the “7021 Clause”), which, when final, will initiate the phased implementation of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 (“CMMC”) requirements into DoD contracts. Continue Reading DFARS 7021 Clause 2.0: DoD Releases Proposed Rule Updating CMMC Clause