FBI to pay $22 million in sex discrimination settlement

The Federal Bureau of Investigation agreed to settle a class action lawsuit brought by 34 women who experienced sexual discrimination during agent training, according to a statement from the victims’ lawyers. Instructors held female trainees to a higher standard than male students, causing female trainees to be unfairly dismissed, according to the attorneys. Women alleged that instructors admonished them for perceived deficiencies more than the men with similar performances, the attorneys said. Instructors consistently gave female trainees lower performance ratings for mistakes that were ignored when made by their male peers, the firm explained. While the FBI has agreed to the sum, a federal judge must approve the preliminary settlement before the parties move forward.

What other allegations did the lawsuit make? Trainees also alleged instructors created a hostile work environment. Male councilors and instructors made frequent inappropriate sexually charged commentary about female students, according to the lawsuit. Instructors openly disparaged women and invited female students to their homes for what they characterized as after-hours attention, the lawsuit said. Male instructors even made comments on the need for female trainees to take birth control to control their moods.

How can they confirm the claims are true? The U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General conducted an internal audit into the claims from the 2019 lawsuit. Investigators found that female trainees received a disproportionate number of notes on suitability and were dismissed at rates higher than their overall representation, read the 2022 investigation results. The report also noted an underrepresentation of females among instructors.

Has the FBI commented on the settlement? In a statement to the Associated Press, the FBI said it has taken significant steps over the past five years to ensure gender equity in its training programs.