The U.S. Department of the Army is moving to restrict a federal contracting preference that has for decades prioritized blind vendors for operating military dining facilities. A notice set for publication this week states the Army will no longer grant the same priority to blind applicants, following a Trump administration determination that the preference "adversely affects the interests of the United States."
Reversing a Legacy of Inclusion
The decision, authorized by former Education Secretary Linda McMahon, targets the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program. Established during the Great Depression, this program was designed to combat discrimination and integrate blind workers into the national workforce by giving them priority to operate vending facilities on federal property.
The notice indicates the Department of the Army currently holds at least 23 dining facility contracts awarded through this program. Nationally, there are more than 1,000 licensed blind vendors, many of whom provide concession services on military bases.
Rationale and Backlash
The Army's justification, as cited in the notice, claims the Randolph-Sheppard priority hinders its ability to act "swiftly, efficiently, and cost-effectively" in procuring and managing food service contracts. It argues this negatively impacts the quality and availability of food for service members.
However, the notice does not reference any comprehensive analysis proving the preference has actually harmed the Army, though it alludes to unspecified examples of waste. The move appears aligned with the Trump administration's broader pattern of challenging government policies aimed at boosting underrepresented groups in the workforce.
Advocacy groups for workers with disabilities are reportedly considering legal action to stop the change, which they argue is unlawful.
Internal Criticism and Program Uncertainty
Trump's Secretary of the Army, Daniel Driscoll, has previously criticized the program. In an October podcast, he claimed it was being abused, forcing the Defense Department to overpay for items like chicken. "It's been interpreted over the years to basically mean we have to prioritize blind people when we go out for our chicken contracts," Driscoll stated.
This characterization was met with dismay by those who administer the program. One Education Department employee, who faced layoffs during the recent government shutdown, told HuffPost that Driscoll's comments reflect a harmful mentality: "if we have a disability and we have a job, we're taking it away from an able-bodied person."
The program's future was already in doubt during the shutdown, when the Education Department planned layoffs for staffers who administer Randolph-Sheppard within the federal government. Those layoffs were only temporarily halted by the deal to reopen the government.
As of Monday, neither the Education Department nor the official listed on the new notice responded to requests for comment, leaving advocates and vendors awaiting further clarification on this significant policy shift.
