Tarrant water officials revised the agency’s policy on hiring small and minority-owned businesses to cooperate with federal executive orders.
Tarrant Regional Water District board members unanimously approved the updated policy during an Oct. 21 meeting.
The changes to the district’s Fair Opportunities Purchasing and Contracting policy includes cutting all mentions of diverse businesses. The water district defines these contractors as minority- and women-owned, socially or economically disadvantaged, small, service disabled or historically underutilized, according to board meeting documents.
The revised policy comes in response to executive orders issued under the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Justice, including federal funding cuts to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, water agency’s attorney Stephen Tatum said in a statement.
Funding could be revoked from agencies or others if they’re found to violate executive orders, federal officials have warned.
The change will affect some of the water district’s contracts that require reporting on companies certified by the Minority or Women-Owned Business Enterprise, Tatum said.
The water district’s policy is intended to promote “full and equal” opportunities for businesses contracted by the water district for its operations and projects, such as the $2.3 billion Integrated Water Pipeline project, a transmission line that moves water from east Texas reservoirs to Dallas-Fort Worth water suppliers.
The revision also eliminates the water district’s protocol prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Additions to the policy mandate that the water district is forbidden to exercise prejudice on “any other basis prohibited by law.”
Also eliminated from the text is the water district’s recognition of diverse business certifications such as the Texas Unified Certification Program and those issued by the Small Business Administration.
The removal of the language follows a series of North Texas cities, including Fort Worth and Arlington, who’ve moved to alter or suspend diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as the Trump administration vows to cut DEI programs from government spending.
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Related
Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.
Republish This Story
Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details.