California Attorney General Bonta leads challenge to Army exemption from Randolph-Sheppard Act
Updated
Updated · Sierra Sun Times · Apr 25
California Attorney General Bonta leads challenge to Army exemption from Randolph-Sheppard Act
3 articles · Updated · Sierra Sun Times · Apr 25
Bonta and attorneys general from 16 states and D.C. filed an amicus brief on April 25, 2026, arguing the U.S. Department of Education's exemption undermines blind workers’ access to Army dining facility contracts.
The coalition contends the exemption threatens 11% of California’s Business Enterprise Program revenue, reduces employment opportunities for blind residents, and destabilizes funding critical to state-run programs supporting individuals with vision impairment.
For nearly a century, the Randolph-Sheppard Act has provided blind professionals with stable careers managing federal vending facilities, with Army dining contracts being among the most lucrative and essential for sustaining these programs.
If the Army exemption stands, how will states fund their programs for blind business owners?
Could this legal battle over Army dining halls set a new precedent for all federal disability laws?
What evidence did the Army provide to justify ending a 90-year-old program for blind entrepreneurs?
Does this challenge signal a need to modernize the 1936 law aiding blind vendors?
How are military food service costs actually determined, and does this program truly increase them?