1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

The recent changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) by removing the longstanding prohibition on segregated facilities for federal contractors are deeply concerning. A recent notice from the National Institutes of Health shows the change is already in effect, citing it will "not enforce requirements" against segregated facilities. While companies must still comply with civil rights laws, explicitly allowing segregated workplaces, housing, and public accommodations for an estimated 25% of the national labor force employed by federal contractors is a regressive and dangerous step backwards undermining over 60 years of integration efforts since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This policy places the nearly $600 billion awarded annually in federal contracts at heightened legal and financial risk of discrimination lawsuits from segregated facilities promoting a divisive work environment detrimental to employee collaboration. Ultimately, it threatens to undermine contractors' ability to recruit and retain the diverse top talent from all backgrounds essential for innovation in a workforce of over 22 million Americans employed through federal contracts. Decisive leadership is urgently needed to reinstate the prohibition, reaffirming the government's commitment to fair and equitable practices to safeguard contractor workforces and prevent perpetuating discrimination contrary to core national values.