A recent policy shift by the Trump administration removes federal contract rules that explicitly ban segregated restaurants, drinking fountains, and waiting rooms for government contractors, NPR reports.
The change comes from the General Services Administration (GSA) following Trump’s executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It repeals part of a 1965 rule signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson that ensured federal contractors could not operate segregated facilities based on race, gender, or religion.
While federal and state laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, still prohibit segregation, legal experts say this rollback is significant because it weakens enforcement at the contract level. Several federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, have already begun implementing the changes.
An anonymous federal worker told NPR they were “shocked” when notified of the new policy, which is already in effect.
