AABCA calls on local advocates to seek legal remedy to federal threats

Mayor Cara Spencer's Strategic Pause of MWBE Program Safeguards Federal Funding and City Services During Crisis

St. Louis, MO — The Advancing American Business & Contractors Association (AABCA) understands St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer’s decisio

n to temporarily halt the city’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification program. This does not include the city’s MWBE inclusion program on city projects. The move comes amid intense pressure from the Trump administration, which has threatened to revoke federal funding from U.S. cities that continue to enforce diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

As the city and advocates seek legal remedy to the federal threats, the people of St. Louis cannot afford service cuts, especially when thousands of residents continue to recover and rebuild after the deadly May tornado, the organization noted.

“This is a deeply difficult but necessary decision, and we stand with Mayor Spencer in choosing to prioritize the survival and stability of the city during this critical time,” said Makal Ali, President and Co-Founder of AABCA. “President Trump has made it explicitly clear that cities defying his DEI ban will face the full weight of federal funding cuts. With St. Louis still reeling from the devastating tornado and urgently in need of federal recovery dollars, this pause is a protective measure—not an abandonment of equity.”*

AABCA reiterated its continued commitment to assisting small businesses obtain certifications for public contracting and ensuring all qualified firms are not shut out of opportunities under shifting national policies. “Let’s be clear—this is not surrender,” Ali emphasized. “It’s a strategic move to ensure the city keeps its doors open, its services funded, and its people safe. We call on allies in Congress and the judiciary to intervene against federal overreach and help cities like St. Louis restore inclusive policies without sacrificing essential funding and hurting everyday citizens.

“Let’s strategize and direct our anger at the right source---and that isn’t on North Tucker Boulevard but 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” he said.                               -30-

About AABCA:The Advancing American Business & Contractors Association, founded in 2001, is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering small  business enterprises through advocacy, education and training to assist economic and job growth throughout the greater St. Louis area.