Overview
- Sen. Bernie Moreno sent a letter to Mayor Aftab Pureval on July 9 demanding the city halt or justify an ordinance that created the Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement.
- Moreno argues the merged office will subject city contracts to DEI analysis and cites President Trump’s March 26, 2026 executive order and DOJ guidance when warning of possible federal funding consequences.
- The letter asks for five specific data items, including Cincinnati’s federal funding totals for 2024–2026, the projected cost to implement the new department, procurement procedures, DOJ compliance documentation, and recent law enforcement staffing data.
- City officials say the June 10 ordinance was adopted unanimously to improve coordination, oversight and access for small minority- and women-owned businesses and that the city’s FY2026–27 budget projects a net reduction in operating cost compared with FY2025.
- No federal agency has announced any fund suspension and the dispute remains a political and documentation request that could lead to formal review if agencies decide to act; Moreno previously raised similar funding threats in 2025.