US under fire on proposal to cut affirmative action

The Reagan administration came under fire for proposals that would erase liberal revisions in federal affirmative-action requirements covering 30 million workers in companies doing business with the government. Women's group say this would cut opportunities for women and minorities.

A major change would require written affirmative-action programs only for contractors having 250 or more employees and government contracts in excess of $ 1 million. Written programs are now required only of companies with 50 or more employees and a $50,000 contract. The administration said raising the threshold for written programs will free 75 percent of employers from that requirement while still protecting 77 percent of workers now affected.