October 7, 2025

By Lane Kimble

WisDOT will remove all Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals for the upcoming October 14 letting and beyond, for the foreseeable future.

Wisconsin’s October advertisement page still listed the goals as of Tuesday afternoon, however WisDOT leadership told WTBA staff the goals will be removed via addendum soon.

The state’s move is in response to the USDOT’s interim final rule released last week, which ordered states to recertify all DBEs without the presumption of race- or sex-based disadvantages. Instead, DBEs will need to individually submit narratives detailing their case.

The federal government’s rule blocks states from applying DBE goals to any federally funded projects until the recertification process is complete.

All 36 proposals in the November 11 letting have 0% DBE goals on the advertisement document itself and the page includes the following language: “The current federal DBE program has been suspended by the U.S. Department of Transportation pursuant to interim final rule (FR Document 2025-19426, 90 FR 48116-48117).  Accordingly, for federally funded proposals​, no federal DBE program requirement will be applied.​”

WTBA will continue to work with WisDOT leadership to navigate the uncertain future of the DBE program as USDOT issues guidance and an ongoing federal lawsuit against the program proceeds.

Please contact WTBA Director of Engineering Matt Grove via email with any questions.