Court overturns education secretary's move to end priority contracts for blind vendors
A Maryland federal court nullified Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s decision to drop priority contracting for blind vendors, granting summary judgment to the vendors and related groups.
The ruling found that McMahon failed to allow public comment or provide supporting documentation, violating the Administrative Procedure Act. The court vacated the secretary’s order and awarded summary judgment to blind vendors, blind merchants associations, and two state agencies that challenged the change. The decision restores the priority contracting program for blind-owned businesses.
Why it matters
The decision ensures blind-owned businesses retain preferential access to government contracts and enforces procedural compliance by federal agencies.
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