diff --git a/atst/domain/task_orders.py b/atst/domain/task_orders.py
index a0ba06e8..5bfdf247 100644
--- a/atst/domain/task_orders.py
+++ b/atst/domain/task_orders.py
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@ from flask import current_app as app
 
 from atst.database import db
 from atst.models.task_order import TaskOrder, Source, FundingType
-from atst.models.attachment import Attachment
 from .exceptions import NotFoundError
-from atst.utils import drop, update_obj
+from atst.utils import update_obj
 
 
 class TaskOrders(object):
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ class TaskOrders(object):
 
     @classmethod
     def update(cls, task_order, dct):
-        updated = update_obj(task_order, dct)
+        updated = update_obj(task_order, dct, ignore_vals=lambda v: v in ["", None])
         db.session.add(updated)
         db.session.commit()
         return updated
diff --git a/atst/utils/__init__.py b/atst/utils/__init__.py
index d5c846e3..195484c9 100644
--- a/atst/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/atst/utils/__init__.py
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ def getattr_path(obj, path, default=None):
     return _obj
 
 
-def update_obj(obj, dct):
+def update_obj(obj, dct, ignore_vals=lambda v: v is None):
     for k, v in dct.items():
-        if hasattr(obj, k) and v is not None:
+        if hasattr(obj, k) and not ignore_vals(v):
             setattr(obj, k, v)
     return obj
 
diff --git a/tests/routes/test_financial_verification.py b/tests/routes/test_financial_verification.py
index 9ec54c27..88a3a628 100644
--- a/tests/routes/test_financial_verification.py
+++ b/tests/routes/test_financial_verification.py
@@ -255,6 +255,17 @@ def test_task_order_info_present_in_extended_form(fv_data, e_fv_data):
     assert form.task_order.clin_0001.data
 
 
+def test_update_ignores_empty_values(fv_data, e_fv_data):
+    request = RequestFactory.create()
+    user = UserFactory.create()
+    data = {
+        **fv_data, **e_fv_data, "task_order-funding_type": ""
+    }
+    SaveFinancialVerificationDraft(
+        TrueValidator, TrueValidator, user, request, data, is_extended=True
+    ).execute()
+
+
 def test_simple_form_does_not_generate_task_order(fv_data):
     request = RequestFactory.create()
     user = UserFactory.create()