Hegseth Takes Sledgehammer to Pentagon’s ‘Oldest DEI Program’

<![CDATA[The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program, a long-standing federal initiative to support small businesses owned by “socially and economically disadvantaged” individuals, has come under intense scrutiny. On Jan. 16, 2026, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a major crackdown on the program's use in Pentagon contracting. He described it as "the oldest DEI program in the federal government" and vowed to take a "sledgehammer" to it, citing concerns over waste, fraud, and deviation from merit-based principles.]]>