SBA declares tribal and Alaska Native programs not affected by Trump's DEI rollback

The Small Business Administration has declared that President Trump’s executive order rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government does not apply to tribally-owned and Alaska Native Corporations.

A May 20 memo written by SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis says the Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing order “does not apply to programs or activities of the Small Business Administration that affect or serve AI/ANs.” AI/ANs stands for American Indians or Alaska Natives.

The memo was SBA's response to requests from the Native American Contractors Association for clarification.

Tribal Business News first reported the memo and said that NACA raised the issue in February, when a group of members met with SBA officials.

SBA did not respond to a request for comment on the memo and broader contracting programs such as 8(a), women-owned, and HUBZone businesses.