GOP push to remove DEI from federal contracts
Republican lawmakers led by Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Roger Williams are pressing to strip Diversity, Equity and Inclusion requirements from federal contracting and from SBIR/STTR grant rules ahead of a Sept. 30 reauthorization deadline, proposing the INNOVATE Act as a replacement that would prioritize merit-based awards. At the same time Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore warning that Annapolis may be considering contractor selection for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild based on race and sex — a move Duffy said could raise Civil Rights Act and legal issues for a federally funded project estimated at $1.8 billion.
Politics
Infrastructure
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Republicans move to cut DEI from federal contracts as Duffy cries foul on equity in Key Bridge rebuild
New information:
- Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Roger Williams are advancing legislation (INNOVATE Act) to remove DEI requirements from SBIR/STTR and federal contract rules ahead of the Sept. 30, 2025 reauthorization deadline
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore expressing concern that Key Bridge contract awards could rely on contractors' race and sex; he warned of potential legal ramifications under the Civil Rights Act
- The Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild is cited as a federally funded reconstruction with an estimated $1.8 billion cost referenced in the article