ST. LOUIS — Mayor Cara Spencer on Friday announced plans to restart the city’s embattled minority contracting program with new rules intended to guard against legal challenges from a hostile federal government.

The new program aims to skirt scrutiny primarily by making hiring goals on city construction projects specific to each project, rather than imposing uniform targets on everything from concrete work to carpentry. The mayor’s office said that will bring the city closer in line with U.S. Supreme Court doctrine and make the program fairer and better.

The rollout, expected in the coming days as staff finalize new rules, marks a turning point in the city’s response to the Trump administration's threats to pull funding from diversity initiatives nationwide.

In late July and early August

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