The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) filed two Title VI civil rights complaints with Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of Contractors for Equal Opportunity (CEO) against the “Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program” and the “New York Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program.”
Both programs unlawfully use federal funds to discriminate against businesses based on race. In turn, these programs harm CEO members’ ability to compete for government contracts on an equal footing. In addition to race discrimination, these “diversity” programs drive up the cost of government to the taxpayers. WILL estimates that 19 different states—both “red” and “blue”—have similar programs (as do many cities). WILL continues to challenge race-based government contracting programs where we are able. WILL and CEO’s latest efforts were recently highlighted in the New York Post. Read the article here.
The Quotes: WILL Deputy Counsel, Dan Lennington, stated “Taxpayers deserve an efficient and colorblind government. We hope that Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice will act quickly to end this widespread misuse of taxpayer money. The actions of Wisconsin, New York, and numerous other states clearly violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and additional legal action is forthcoming.”
Additional Background: On January 20 and 21, 2025, President Trump ordered all federal agencies to identify, investigate, and then terminate federally funded DEI programs. Title VI provides these agencies with powerful tools to ensure that the federally funded programs, like the “diversity” programs run by Wisconsin and New York, are operated on a race-neutral basis. Title VI applies to any “program or activity” that receives federal funds, including discriminatory programs run by state government. As U.S. Department of Justice explains in its Title VI manual, “[W]hen any part of a state or local government department or agency is extended federal financial assistance, the entire agency or department is covered [by Title VI].”
Both Wisconsin’s Supplier Diversity Program and New York’s MWBE Program enforce race-based goals and requirements, as our complaints outline to the DOJ. The MWBE program represents $3 billion in public contracts awarded in just one fiscal year, while Wisconsin’s program exceeds $200 million in discriminatory spending each year.
Our Client: Contractors for Equal Opportunity (CEO) is a nationwide voluntary membership association of companies that have been negatively impacted by discrimination in local, state, and federal contracting programs, such as the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and similar versions at the state and local levels. CEO is represented pro bono by attorneys at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. Find out more at: https://equalopportunitycontracts.org/.
Read more here:
- New York Complaint, February 2025
- Wisconsin Complaint, February 2025
