Sequestration has been tough not only on federal agencies but also on contractors. In this next installment of our special series, The Private Cost of Sequestration, we talk to Nancy Blethen, the owner, president and CEO of a woman-owned small business, which does work with the federal government. No newcomer to the field, Tech Systems provides sustainment support, supply chain management, maintenance and professional administrative support to Defense and civilian agencies. She told us what’s going on in that market as the sequester rolls on.

Sequestration budget cuts hit government and industry across the board. This week, in our special report The Private Side of Sequestration, we’re exploring life for contractors. Earlier we heard from a small, woman-owned company. Now we turn to an Alaska Native Corporation, which has special treatment in federal procurement. TecPort Solutions, because of its ANC status, is faring a little better. Carmine Taglialatela, vice president of business development, says it hasn’t had to layoff anyone.

Small business federal contractors are less insulated from the impact of sequestration than large vendors. As part of Federal News Radio’s special report, The Private Side of Sequestration, executive editor Jason Miller explores how these firms are faring in the light of budget reductions and federal furloughs. Earlier we heard from a small services contractor. Jason turns to products. He first talks with Cris Young…the executive vice president of Hudson Fasteners and the president of the National Association of Small Business Contractors and Supplier Council. They discuss how her product company is struggling with the government’s acquisition slowdown.

One law firm is set to benefit from the leadership transitions taking place at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Robert Khuzmi is the former SEC enforcement chief, and Ken Lench ran the structured and new products unit. Both are joining Kirkland and Ellis, a big corporate law firm. Khuzami will reportedly earn $5 million a year. When leaving government for the private sector, senior federal executives have rules to follow. For a review, we turn to Debra Roth, a partner at Shaw Bransford and Roth, in our Legal Loop.

You’ve seen those pop-up windows asking you to rate the website you’re trying to read. It might be a temporary annoyance, but together the millions of survey forms show important online trends. Now the results are out for federal websites in the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

Like a kid in grade school, Congress is going on recess. Starting Monday and until past Labor Day, members will be out on the hustings in their home districts.Yet Congress faces many unresolved issues, like immigration reform, postal reform, NSA surveillance and the 2014 budget to name a new. What exactly can we expect to happen while members of Congress are away? For insight we turn to Pete Kasperowicz, staff writer at The Hill newspaper.