Black Businesses Call Out Structural Barriers That Blocked Federal Contract Work Before Trump

by Jeroslyn JoVonn February 20, 2025 Black-owned businesses are calling for real solutions to securing equity in federal contract work. President Donald Trump has returned to the White House with a clear agenda to dismantle DEI initiatives. While this may seem like a setback for Black-owned businesses, many had already faced challenges securing federal contracts under the Biden administration. While some minority-owned firms may have gained from DEI programs and initiatives, these efforts fell short of addressing the deeper systemic barriers that continue to hinder many Black-owned businesses. “DEI isn’t for us,” Casey Cooper, owner of a Black-woman-owned long-haul trucking company, told Reuters. “It looks good on paper, but that money doesn’t go to us anyway.” When Trump set his sights on dismantling DEI initiatives across the federal government—including programs designed to help Black-owned firms secure federal contracts—Cooper remained unfazed. While some minority-owned businesses may have benefited from DEI efforts, these initiatives did not go far enough in addressing the deeper systemic barriers that continue to challenge many Black-owned enterprises. “Many of these business owners feel disillusioned, betrayed, and deeply concerned about the future of their enterprises,” said Ken Harris, president and chief executive of the National Business League, a...