Strong women.
Strong infrastructure.
Stronger communities.
About Women First
Women First is a leading advocate for the protection and expansion of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
We have been championing women-owned small businesses in the construction industry since 1987.
Our members are partners to their cities and states – they are economic drivers and job creators that make communities better.
We empower women entrepreneurs across all 50 states.
We advocate for federal support to help remedy past and present discrimination.
Help Save the DBE Program
Protecting the DBE program means protecting small, independent American businesses — and the local economies they keep alive. But without Congressional reauthorization in the 2026 Highway Bill, the continuation of this vital program will be at serious risk, along with jobs for half a million workers.
News
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How Trump’s Anti-DEI Campaign Could Hurt Small Businesses
President Donald Trump has never masked his hostility toward practices that benefit underrepresented groups in academia, business, and public service. Indeed, his first acts in office included discarding Civil Rights-era…
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US DOT Calls Its DBE Program ‘Unconstitutional,’ Asks Judge to Block Key Parts
Attorneys for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation called the agency’s disadvantaged business enterprise program “unconstitutional” and asked a judge to block it from setting DBE contract goals as part of…
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Trump DOT Settlement Would End Minority Contracting Requirement
The Trump administration on Wednesday proposed ending a four-decade-old program that mandates the hiring of minority- and women-owned businesses for federal transportation contracts. It could have major implications for thousands…