Federal Contract Silence on Segregation Sparks Outrage
A recent change to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) removes the explicit prohibition of segregated facilities in federal contracts. This alteration, prompted by President Trump’s executive orders on diversity and gender identity, rescinds a clause dating back to the 1960s that mandated integrated workplaces for federal contractors. While existing state and federal laws against segregation remain in effect, legal experts deem this change symbolically significant, potentially undermining decades of progress toward racial and gender equality. The removal of the clause occurred without the typical public comment period, raising concerns about transparency and due process.