By Karina Tsui, CNN
(CNN) — The Trump administration intends to use a civil anti-fraud law to investigate and potentially punish and withdraw federal funding from universities that promote diversity and inclusion policies, the Department of Justice announced Monday.
In a memo, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the False Claims Act –– part of the government’s establishment of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative –– will be enforced “when a federal contractor or recipient of federal funds knowingly violates civil rights laws.”
Blanche in the memo cites antisemitism and certain access to women’s sports on campuses as potential examples of when the False Claims Act could be implemented, describing such cases as discriminatory or assigning “benefits or burdens” based on race and ethnicity.
The Department of Justice will broadly seek fines and damages in cases where violations are found and will also consider criminal enforcement for certain breaches, the memo said. The False Claims Act dates to the Civil War and allows the government to recover funds up to three times the damages it incurs, in addition to penalties, lost due to fraud, according to the DOJ.
The Justice Department’s announcement is part of President Donald Trump’s broader ambition to purge universities of diversity initiatives by withholding critical education funds. Dozens of schools across the country have already appeased the administration –– some abruptly ending DEI initiatives, laying off...
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