The US government will remove diversity and equity language from its procurement rules
What happened
The US General Services Administration will partly withdraw a rule that added diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility language to federal procurement regulations. This means federal agencies will not be required to consider these factors when buying goods and services.
Why it matters
The US government is the world's largest buyer of goods and services. Rules about how it buys things shape entire industries. This withdrawal signals a shift away from using federal purchasing power to advance social goals like diversity and equity. It means companies hoping to win federal contracts will no longer need to emphasize their DEI efforts as a competitive advantage.
The signal
Watch for similar rescissions or delays in other federal agencies' efforts to integrate diversity and equity into their operations and procurement processes.