Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Orders Disclosure of Leadership Diversity for City Contracts

Chicago, IL – In a bold move to leverage the city's purchasing power, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order requiring companies vying for city contracts to disclose leadership diversity demographics. The order also mandates the reporting of any ties to certain law enforcement agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as the mayor seeks to impose new standards on city contractors.

Mayor Johnson emphasized the importance of workplace data in identifying discrimination and criticized the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle federal reporting requirements. "If you want to do business with this city, we want to know whether the people leading your company reflect the diversity of the communities whose tax dollars are paying your contracts," Johnson stated.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded by accusing Johnson of penalizing American companies for assisting federal immigration enforcement. "If Mayor Johnson wants to lecture anyone about taxpayer dollars, remember what he is: a sanctuary politician who bullies American companies with money that isn't his," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

During a press conference at Arise Chicago, a nonprofit organization focused on protecting immigrants' rights, Johnson unveiled the executive order. He framed the order as a response to corporate influence in Washington and emphasized that Chicago would use city spending to put its values into practice.

The order directs Chicago's chief procurement officer to develop rules within 90 days that bar vendors found to have committed public integrity, workplace discrimination, or wage theft violations during the previous five years from receiving city contracts. Contractors must also disclose whether they received more than $500,000 from government or law enforcement agencies or faced proceedings alleging excessive force, unlawful detention, unconstitutional policing, discrimination, or other civil rights violations.

Large private companies with corporate families reporting at least $1 billion in net income must provide information about leadership diversity, board composition, and diversity policies when not already covered by Illinois reporting law. Under the order, contractors must also report efforts to hire and promote formerly incarcerated people, and future awardees must update the disclosures at least annually.

The order does not list doing business with ICE alone as a disqualifying offense. However, it does disqualify firms for specified integrity, discrimination, or wage theft violations while making the disclosures public.

A campaign backing Johnson's order identified $3.19 billion in Chicago contracts held by 42 firms that also work with ICE. The campaign, "Not With Our Money," has joined Johnson in advocating for the executive order, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in city contracts.

Mayor Johnson's executive order is part of a larger effort to address issues of diversity and equality in Chicago. By requiring companies to disclose leadership diversity demographics and report ties to law enforcement agencies, Johnson hopes to ensure that city contracts are awarded to companies that reflect the values and diversity of the communities they serve.