Back to News

President Trump Ends Affirmative Action for Government Contractors under Executive Order 11246

Published on

January 22, 2025

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an order revoking Executive Order 11246 which prohibits discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Executive Order 11246 also required government contractors and subcontractors with 50 or more employees and an annual contract of at least $50,000 to develop and maintain a written affirmative action plan. The new order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” allows contractors to continue their programs for an additional 90 days from January 20, 2025.

The Order requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to streamline the federal contracting process and bars the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) from pushing contractors to balance their workforce based on race, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual preference or religion. It further directs all departments and agencies to take “strong action to end private sector DEI discrimination, including civil compliance investigations.”

Importantly, the new order does not address Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act which addresses non-discrimination and affirmative action for individuals with disabilities or the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Reemployment Adjustment Act (VEVRAA) which addresses non-discrimination and affirmative action for certain specified categories of veterans. Those requirements still appear to be in effect.

We will continue to keep you posted as developments occur. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Craighead Carey, Amy Shirk or any member of the Barley Snyder Employment Practice Group for assistance.


Related News

View More News
Press Release
February 5, 2025

Barley Snyder Partner Joshua Schwartz Appointed to Ephrata Performing Arts Center Board of Directors

For Immediate Release Lancaster, Pa. – Barley Snyder partner Joshua L. Schwartz has been named to the Ephrata Performing Ar...

Learn More
News Alert
February 5, 2025

Practical Solutions for the Tariff Environment in 2025

Following President Trump’s February 1, 2025 Executive Orders announcing new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and Ch...

Learn More
Press Release
January 27, 2025

Barley Snyder Partner Jeremy Frey Named Executive Co-Chair of 2025 York Walk to End Alzheimer’s

For Immediate Release Hanover, Pa. – Barley Snyder partner Jeremy D. Frey has been named an executive co-chair for the Alzh...

Learn More

Other Upcoming Events

View All Upcoming Events
May
06
8:00 am
-
5:00 pm
event
Location

42nd Annual Employment Law Seminar

Learn More
Apr
08
12:00 pm
-
6:00 pm
event
Location

LendiCon 2025

Learn More

Get in Touch

Our attorneys, paralegals and staff look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out to let us know how we can help.

Get In Touch
RECOGNIZED IN
Super Lawyers
Best Law Firms US News
Best Lawyers