I recently interviewed for an entry-level software engineering position at a large federal contracting company. The interview went really well, and shortly after, the hiring manager reached out to say they were planning to extend an offer that week. He asked for my salary expectations, which I provided based on my research, and I made it clear I was open to discussion. They didn’t push back on my number, which felt promising. However, it's now the following week, and I haven’t heard anything further. My application status still shows as ‘in progress’ in their system. Given the nature of federal contracting, I’m wondering if the slower internal approval process is typical. Interestingly, I actually knew the hiring manager from childhood, although we hadn’t been in touch for years. He has been my direct contact throughout this process. I’m considering sending a follow-up email to check in, but I want to make sure I don’t come off as pushy. I’d appreciate any advice from those who have been in similar situations.