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

Chicago, IL – August 30, 2026 – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order that mandates city contractors to reveal the diversity of their leadership and report any ties to certain law enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move is part of the mayor's initiative to leverage the city's purchasing power to enforce new standards on contracting practices.

Mayor Johnson emphasized the importance of workplace data in identifying discrimination, particularly in light of the Trump administration's attempts 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 criticized the mayor's order, accusing him of penalizing American companies for aiding federal immigration enforcement. A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Johnson is a "sanctuary politician who bullies American companies with money that isn't his."

Despite the DHS's accusations, Mayor Johnson maintains that the order is a necessary response to corporate influence in Washington. "Under President Trump, ICE will keep enforcing the law in Chicago, whether City Hall likes it or not," the spokesperson added.

During a press conference at Arise Chicago, a nonprofit focused on protecting immigrants' rights, Johnson unveiled the executive order. He framed the order as a direct challenge to the influence of corporations in the nation's capital and a demonstration of how Chicago would put its values into practice through city spending.

The executive order also directs the city's chief procurement officer to establish rules within 90 days that bar vendors with a history of public integrity, workplace discrimination, or wage theft violations from securing city contracts. Contractors must disclose if they have received more than $500,000 from government or law enforcement agencies or face 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. Under the order, contractors must also report efforts to hire and promote formerly incarcerated people, with future awardees required to update the disclosures at least annually.

Not With Our Money, a campaign that joined Johnson at the announcement, identified $3.19 billion in Chicago contracts held by 42 firms that also do business with ICE. The campaign's research underscores the significance of the mayor's executive order in addressing potential conflicts of interest between city contracts and immigration enforcement.

Mayor Johnson's executive order has sparked a contentious debate over the role of city contracts in immigration policy. Critics argue that the order is an overreach that could harm businesses and impede immigration enforcement, while supporters contend that it is a necessary step to ensure that city dollars are not supporting companies with discriminatory practices or ties to law enforcement agencies.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the executive order will impact the city's contracting practices and the broader discourse on immigration policy. Mayor Johnson's move is a bold statement that could set a precedent for other cities seeking to align their contracting standards with their values.