FBI Settles $22M Lawsuit Over Gender Discrimination

The FBI has agreed to pay over $22 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and harassment of female recruits during training. Thirty-four women dismissed from the FBI's training academy in Quantico will receive the payout. Conditions of the settlement include continued training and outside evaluation processes.

The FBI has agreed to pay more than $22 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and harassment of female recruits during training. The payout to 34 dismissed women is pending federal judge approval and is one of the largest in the bureau's history.

Attorney David J. Shaffer, representing the women, stated that the lawsuit, filed in 2019, aims to address the pervasive issues within the FBI's academy environment. Female recruits faced harsher scrutiny and were targeted for dismissal based on subjective criteria.

The settlement includes provisions for the plaintiffs to resume training and guarantees placement in one of their top three preferred field offices if they pass. Additionally, an external review process will ensure fair evaluations for female recruits moving forward.