'Segregated facilities' are no longer explicitly banned in federal contracts

[Dennis Donovan]

19. Reuters: Trump administration removes ban on 'segregated facilities' in federal contracts

Reuters - Trump administration removes ban on 'segregated facilities' in federal contracts

By Kanishka Singh
March 19, 20254:59 AM EDT

WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has removed an explicit ban on "segregated facilities" like waiting rooms, restaurants and drinking fountains for federal contractors, a memo issued by the U.S. General Services Administration showed.

The memo was issued last month but media outlets took note of it on Tuesday after a report from NPR.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has taken multiple steps aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government and private sector.

In one such executive order, Trump revoked executive policies dating as far back as 1965 on equal employment opportunities, environmental actions designed to protect communities of color, and "workforce balancing" efforts by federal contractors based on race, gender and religion.

The 1965 action aimed to end discriminatory practices in hiring and employment on the part of U.S. government contractors.

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