The threat of sequestration early this year prompted a tussle between federal contractors and the government. Companies wanted to give their employees legally mandated notice of possible layoffs. The Labor Department told them not to, saying the WARN act didn’t apply. The White House added, contractors could be reimbursed if employees later sued. The GAO has mostly upheld that policy. Alan Chvotkin, executive vice president of the Professional Services Council, reacts.