Deloitte has agreed to pay $21.5 million to settle claims by the Trump administration that it discriminated against employees and job applicants on the basis of race or sex.
The settlement is part of a wide-ranging Justice Department probe of the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives of major companies with federal contracts. The Trump administration is investigating the DEI initiatives under the False Claims Act, a federal law used to take action against contractors suspected of defrauding the government.
In April, IBM agreed to pay $17 million to resolve claims its DEI programs violated the False Claims Act. It was the first such settlement since the Justice Department established a task force last year to crack down on DEI using anti-fraud law.
Deloitte denied it engaged in the conduct alleged by the government and did not admit liability as part of the settlement.
"We are pleased to have resolved this matter to avoid the cost and distraction of protracted litigation, allowing us to remain focused on attracting and developing exceptional talent with the skills and capabilities our clients rely on every day," Deloitte told USA TODAY in a statement.
Federal contracts require contractors to provide equal opportunity in the workplace and companies must certify they don’t discriminate on the basis of race or sex. In the Deloitte case, the government alleged the company –...
Deloitte has consented to a $21.5 million payment to resolve allegations from the Trump administration that it engaged in discrimination against workers and those seeking jobs based on race or gen...