The General Services Administration lifted a requirement for the prohibition of segregated facilities in government contracts.
The General Services Administration (GSA) lifted its requirement for the prohibition of segregated facilities in government contracts on February 15 to comply with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
In the memorandum, the GSA shared a list of clauses that should no longer be included in contracts with the federal government, including one related to the prohibition of segregated facilities.
Newsweek spoke to two legal experts about what this means for segregation in the United States as a whole.Why It Matters
The policy change is in line with the Trump administration’s push to remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump’s executive order from January 21 says these policies «deny, discredit, and undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system.»
While the GSA’s action revokes a statute with origins dating back to 1965, the memo states that contractors are still required to follow existing U.S. laws on civil rights and nondiscrimination, which means that while the change may be DEI-based, segregation based on race, color, religion, or national origin is not legal in the U.S.What To Know
Benjamin DeGolia, attorney and founder of civil rights and employment law firm DeGolia Law P.C., told Newsweek that the change is «partially symbolic.»
«In practice, numerous federal laws still prohibit government contractors from maintaining segregated facilities.
