The principle in question is favoritism based upon political speech.

If, say, you boycott the democratic party (e.g.), then the Biden government would have every right to cancel any contracts because of your political speech. The only way to prove that you're not actually boycotting would be to donate to the democratic party.

Similarly, by the logic of the current anti-boycott laws, they could make you promise not to support those anti-Democrat nutjobs in the GOP.

No. The federal government does not have that right, that's the entire point of this lawsuit. And the entire point of the first amendment.

In a democracy, a government does not have the right to selectively boycott its citizens for their political views. Otherwise, what's next -- the party in power refusing to award contracts to businesses that support the opposition party? You can see how democracy would collapse pretty quickly.

Actually the government very specifically does not have the right to retaliate against you based upon protected speech you make, the entire point of the first amendment.

Is it speech or is it inefficient sourcing practices? The fed doesn't want to buy from a company engaging in boycotts because it's paying a premium to exclude a certain segment of the market. If the cheapest manufacturer of a part is a boycotted country then a more expensive one must be sourced.

If a country really should be excluded from trade pass a sanction.

That's the point of the bidding process for government contracts. If your boycott makes your services more expensive, then you're less likely to receive the contract, but it would still be your choice.

And it doesn't apply at all to e.g. Teachers who are being forced to sign waivers like this

> If your boycott makes your services more expensive, then you're less likely to receive the contract, but it would still be your choice.

The cheapest bid might be even cheaper absent the boycott. I, and plenty of other people, don't want to pay this premium because of a company's political agenda. Fulfill the contract with the most efficient supplies on the market, or don't both bidding at all.