Houston politicians react to minority business program being ruled unconstitutional by federal court

This press release from Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) was published on 2026-07-30 and titled "Houston politicians react to minority business program being ruled unconstitutional by federal court".

Houston politicians react to minority business program being ruled unconstitutional by federal court

A federal judge has ruled Houston's minority business contracting program unconstitutional, declaring city officials will no longer be able to take race into consideration in the awarding of city contracts. The Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprise program is designed to even the playing field for these businesses. Houston since 1984 has set goals to give certain percentages of various types of city contracts to certified small businesses and those owned by women and minorities. The ruling now leaves the future of the program in doubt. Here’s what Houston-area officials had to say about what it means for the city. ... "This lawsuit is part of a broader effort from far-right activists to take away the tools our community uses to level the playing field for all, court, the city's own expert witness testified that minority-owned businesses continue to lose out on city contracts. In Harris County, a 2020 study found the same pattern; more than 90% of contracting dollars went to businesses owned by white men, even though these businesses only made up 72% of the market. Programs like Houston's MWBE exist because these disparities are real, and this lawsuit is part of a broader effort from far-right activists to take away the tools our community uses to level the playing field for all." - Lizzie Fletcher, U.S. House of Representatives View this article in Houston Chronicle.