The Department of Defense, General Services Administration and NASA submitted a rule change on September 9 to eliminate a program [3] which aimed to boost government contracts that were awarded to minority-owned small businesses.
“It is unbelievable that at a time when unemployment among minorities is at record levels, the President is going to eliminate the largest federal programs to help minority-owned businesses,” said American Small Business League President Lloyd Chapman. “It will no doubt destroy millions of jobs and minority businesses from coast to coast.”
Federal procurement officers have had a goal of purchasing five percent from disadvantaged businesses since the National Defense Authorization Act of 1987. They were also allowed to pay a 10 percent premium for products made by businesses that qualified. However, in 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals found that favoring minority-owned businesses violated the Fifth Amendment and was therefore unconstitutional.
The original suit against the provision was brought by the Rothe Development Corporation, [4] a consortium of federal contractors which curiously presents itself as a "Women Owned Small Business."
Image of President Obama and Jeff Immelt, the CEO of General Electric and an economic adviser to the President.