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NewsMacro

Sen. Moreno Challenges Cincinnati Mayor Over DEI Procurement Ordinance Amid $30M Budget Deficit

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, sent a formal letter to Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval demanding answers over a newly enacted city ordinance that creates a Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement, arguing the restructuring injects DEI considerations into the city's contracting process in potential violation of Justice Department guidance. The letter, also directed to the Justice Department, arrives as Cincinnati carries a $30 million budget deficit and what Moreno describes as a surge in violent crime.

By Desmond ChoiNewsroomJuly 3, 20262 min read
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Key takeaways

  • Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, sent a formal letter to Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and the Justice Department challenging a city ordinance that creates a Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement.
  • Moreno argues the ordinance injects DEI considerations into city contracting in potential violation of Justice Department guidance against unlawful discrimination.
  • The Cincinnati City Council approved the ordinance in June, reorganizing procurement functions while, in the city's words, seeking to strengthen rather than reduce its focus on inclusion.
  • Moreno framed the ordinance as a fiscal misallocation given Cincinnati's $30 million budget deficit, a law enforcement recruitment crisis, and recent violent crime including multiple homicides and a mass shooting.
  • Moreno gave Pureval five business days to respond with federal funding figures, law enforcement staffing data, and a plan for coming into compliance with DOJ guidance.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, sent a formal letter to Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval demanding answers over a newly enacted city ordinance that creates a Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement, arguing the restructuring injects DEI considerations into the city's contracting process in potential violation of Justice Department guidance. The letter, also directed to the Justice Department, arrives as Cincinnati carries a $30 million budget deficit and what Moreno describes as a surge in violent crime.

The Ordinance and What It Changes

The Cincinnati City Council approved the ordinance in June, reorganizing procurement functions under a new Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement. City documents cited by Moreno indicate the restructuring is designed to make contracting more efficient while preserving the city's DEI focus. Moreno quoted the city's own explanation directly: "The goal of this restructuring is not to reduce the city's focus on inclusion. Instead, it is intended to strengthen it." That language, the senator argued, is an explicit admission that DEI criteria will continue to shape how public contracts are awarded.

Federal Funding and Legal Exposure

Moreno's letter asked Pureval to disclose the exact amount of federal funding Cincinnati received in fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026, along with the projected cost of implementing the ordinance and a detailed outline of how the new department will evaluate contract applications. The senator argued the ordinance "completely ignores" Justice Department guidance warning against unlawful discrimination, and the letter's simultaneous transmission to the DOJ suggests Moreno is flagging potential federal-funding consequences. President Donald Trump has made dismantling DEI programs across the federal government a first-term priority since returning to office, directing agencies to review funding recipients for compliance.

Deficit, Safety, and Resource Allocation

Beyond the legal challenge, Moreno framed the ordinance as a fiscal misallocation. With Cincinnati running a $30 million budget deficit and facing what he characterized as a law enforcement recruitment crisis alongside multiple recent homicides and a mass shooting, the senator argued the funds committed to expanding DEI infrastructure should instead be directed toward public safety. Moreno gave Pureval five business days to respond with law enforcement staffing data and a plan for coming into compliance with DOJ guidance. Mayor Pureval's office had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

About this story

Filed by the newsroom of MarketPR on July 3, 2026. Source: foxnews.com. Indicative figures are not investment advice.

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Frequently asked

What did Sen. Moreno demand from Cincinnati's mayor?

Moreno demanded that Mayor Pureval disclose the exact federal funding Cincinnati received in fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026, the projected cost of implementing the ordinance, how the new department will evaluate contract applications, and law enforcement staffing data. He gave the mayor five business days to respond with a compliance plan.

What does the new Cincinnati ordinance do?

Approved by the City Council in June, the ordinance reorganizes the city's procurement functions under a new Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement, which the city says is intended to make contracting more efficient while strengthening its focus on inclusion.

Why does Moreno say the ordinance is a problem?

Moreno argues the ordinance injects DEI criteria into contracting in potential violation of Justice Department guidance against unlawful discrimination, and that spending on DEI infrastructure is a fiscal misallocation amid a $30 million deficit and a surge in violent crime.

How did Mayor Pureval's office respond?

Mayor Pureval's office had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.