Ahead of her presentation at this week’s VETS conference, former White House appointee and 8(a) associate administrator Jackie Robinson-Burnette joined me on GovCon Intelligence. Jackie and I worked together at SBA in the aftermath of the Ultima court decision to save the 8(a) program, and we talked at length about what the program will look like after this latest crisis.

I also got her thoughts on the Rule of Two, the attack on the women-owned small business program, and how small businesses are faring generally. Finally, she shared her lessons on leadership based on a 35-year career in public service.

Please visit www.govconintelligence.com for a full transcript and show notes.

Links

* Jackie Robinson-Burnette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackierb/

* Senior Executive Service Solutions:

https://www.ses2.co/

* SBA proposed rule on deleting the presumption of social disadvantage: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=1397162

* 8afacts.org: http://8afacts.org

* Protecting Small Business Competition Act, as amended: https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/119320/documents/BILLS-119-ANS1toHR2804-W000816-Amdt-3.pdf

* Eliminating Discrimination in Government Contracting Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4390

* Christopher Slottee: “Army Shifts Acquisition Policy: New Preference for Competition in SBA 8(a) Program” (Schwabe): https://www.schwabe.com/publication/army-shifts-acquisition-policy-new-preference-for-competition-in-sba-8a-program/

* “Firm Building Trump’s Ballroom Got a Secret No-Bid Contract for a Nearby Job” (The New York Times): https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/us/politics/lafayette-park-fountains-trump-contract.html

* How Successful People Lead by John Maxwell:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-successful-people-lead-taking-your-influence-to-the-next-level-john-c-maxwell/413fd6664c3f7018?ean=9781599953625&next=t&

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Jackie’s Background

00:18 – Jackie’s Historic Legacy at the SBA

01:20 – Deleting the Presumption of Social Disadvantage (Post-Ultima Reforms)

04:59 – The Impact of the 8(a) Application Freeze on Small Businesses

07:05 – Streamlining and Digitizing the 8(a) Application Process

10:37 – Individual vs. Entity-Owned 8(a) Firms (Alaska Native Corporations)

12:51 – The Rule of Two and Preserving the Small Business Industrial Base

16:15 – GWAC Pools (Women-Owned and HUBZone Set-Asides)

17:40 – Defending and Improving the Women-Owned Small Business Program

21:22 – Debunking Fraud Myths and Highlighting the Multiplier Effect

23:35 – Predictions for the Future of the 8(a) Program

27:19 – The Reality of Sole Source Contracts in Federal Agencies

31:06 – Consolidating the Four SBA Systems into One Unified Platform

36:02 – How System Consolidation Saved Public Service Jobs From DEI Cuts

38:03 – The Mid-2026 Sentiment and Financial Anxiety in the Small Business Community

41:21 – Refection on Returning to Government: Was It Worth It?

44:44 – Leadership Insights: “How Successful People Lead” and Leveling Up

47:46 – Conclusion & Where to Connect with Jackie

With 20 years of Federal legal experience, Sam Le counsels small businesses through government contracting matters, including bid protests, contract compliance, small business certifications, and procurement disputes. Sam obtained his law degree from the University of Virginia and formerly served as SBA’s director of procurement policy. His website is www.samlelaw.com.

This video is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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