Bill · S. 4390· Senate(119-S-4390)
Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act
- Introduced
- 4/27/2026
- Last activity
- 4/27/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Lee
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act" aims to eliminate preferences for disadvantaged individuals and businesses in federal contracting. It amends the Small Business Act to remove specific references to businesses owned or controlled by women and socially/economically disadvantaged individuals. The bill also targets Department of Transportation financial assistance programs and various other government programs to remove racial, ethnic, and gender-based goals. Additionally, it establishes a prohibition against considering race, ethnicity, or sex when granting civilian and defense contracts or awards. Finally, it mandates that executive agencies update their rules and guidance to remove these references within specific timeframes.
Yes
Would white Americans be better off under this?+3
The bill removes racial and ethnic preferences that could have favored minority-owned businesses in the federal contracting process.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+3
The bill maintains and isolates priority for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+2
The bill preserves priority status for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans while removing other preferences.
The opposite· 3 of 10
Would Black Americans be better off under this?-7
The bill eliminates the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 and removes racial-based business goals.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?-7
The bill eliminates specific preference programs for socially and economically disadvantaged business owners.
Would women be better off under this?-7
The bill removes specific government contract preferences and reporting requirements for women-owned small businesses.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Standardization of Contract Awards: By prohibiting agency heads from taking into consideration the race, ethnicity, or sex of business owners when granting contracts or awards, the bill creates a standard of consideration based on factors other than these protected classes (Section 5(a)).
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Prohibition of Requirements on Contractors: The bill prevents the government from placing requirements on contractors or grantees that encourage them to take race, ethnicity, or sex into consideration for subcontracts or awards (Section 5(a)).
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Consistency Across Defense and Civilian Sectors: The bill extends the prohibition on racial, ethnic, and sex-based preferences to both civilian and defense contracts (Section 5(a) and Section 5(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Impact on Disadvantaged Business Owners: The bill repeals various provisions and preferences specifically designated for small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and women (Section 2).
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Reduction in Airport Improvement Project Grant Goals: The bill reduces the percentage for certain written assurances in airport improvement project grants from 10 percent to 5 percent (Section 3(a)).
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Elimination of Specific Small Business Reporting: The bill removes requirements to report the number of small businesses owned and controlled by women and those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (Section 4(a)).
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Repeal of the Minority Business Development Act of 2021: The bill repeals this specific act, which previously addressed business development (Section 2(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+3Good For White Americans+3Good For African Americans-7Good For Hispanic Americans-7Good For Women-7Good For Low Income Households-4Good For Business Owners-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality-7Improves Racial Equity-7
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-6
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Roads And Bridges-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency-3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+2
- 4/27/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.