The Professional Services Council is urging the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense to give U.S. government contractors more warning of threats in the wake of attacks in Kenya and Iraq.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, PSC called for a joint statement adding contractors to the increased threat alerts already issued for military services personnel and their families. Council CEO and President David Berteau also urged the government to craft an improved process to provide information on threats.

The request comes following the deaths of two U.S. contractors and a U.S. soldier, and the destruction of contractor aircraft, in an attack Jan. 5 at a Kenya Defense Force airfield. That followed the December 2019 death of another American contractor in Kirkuk, Iran.

In a Jan. 8 news statement, Berteau said it's not yet possible to link the Kenya attack to the increased threat of retaliation by Iran or its proxies for recent U.S. actions in that country. But "these events show the increased risk faced by U.S. government contractors," the CEO said.

"Recent attacks show that contractor employees remain vulnerable, particularly those who live and work outside of military installations," Berteau said. "We believe DoD and the State Department should increase their public focus on sharing with contractors all relevant information."

In addition to the letter, PSC encouraged its members and all affected contractors to take "appropriate actions to prepare for the increased threat environment."

PSC represents companies that provide technology and professional services to federal agencies.

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