On Feb. 18, 2026, the General Services Administration (GSA) proposed to revise its draft certification requirements for entities receiving federal financial assistance. The revisions would align the GSA’s draft certification requirements with President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, by requiring entities that receive federal funding to certify that their programs and initiatives, including DEI-related programs, do not violate federal antidiscrimination laws. The revised certifications document lists several practices that could violate federal anti-discrimination laws, including the use of race-based programs and the use of diversity statements in hiring.
GSA’s proposal would revise the “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications” document which entities must read and affirm as part of the GSA’s System for Award Management (SAM) registration process. Authorized officials who submit the certifications on behalf of their organizations may face criminal liability and civil liability if they provide false or fraudulent information to the U.S. government in their submission. GSA is accepting public comments on the proposed revisions until March 30, 2026.