Missouri Governor Rescinds State Contract Goals for Women, Minority-Owned Businesses

Governor Mike Parson's decision to cancel procurement benchmarks raises legal and economic concerns among business leaders and advocates.

Governor Parson rescinded an executive order from 2015 that set targets for state agencies to allocate 10% of their purchasing to minority-owned and another 10% to women-owned businesses.
The decision was part of Parson's cancellation of 177 executive orders, citing 'legal concerns' but without detailing specific court rulings.
Advocates, including the Missouri NAACP, express concern that the move signals reduced opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in state contracting.
Recent legal challenges, including a Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions, have influenced similar policy changes.
Missouri's adherence to the previous goals was mixed, with only 5% of service contracts going to minority-owned firms and 4% to women-owned businesses in 2022.