By ALEXANDRA OLSON
NEW YORK (AP) — Defense contractor Lockheed Martin has agreed to pay $29.5 million to settle claims by President Donald Trump’s administration that it discriminated against white workers through its efforts to promote diversity and equity in an internal bonus program.
Lockheed Martin will pay $22 million to the U.S. government to resolve claims that it failed to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in its federal contracts, according to the settlement announced late Tuesday by the Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In addition, Lockheed Martin will pay $7.5 million to more than 1,000 affected employees as part of a settlement with the EEOC, which had been investigating the company for violating Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race.
In a statement, Lockheed Martin denied the government’s allegations but said it “agreed to resolve this matter with the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to avoid the distraction and expense of prolonged litigation.”
“We did not admit liability, determining it would be best for all involved to put these matters behind us so we can remain focused on our critical national security mission,” the company said.
The case is the latest example of the Trump administration’s use of the 1863 False Claims Act to pressure federal contractors into abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion practices. The...
By ALEXANDRA OLSON NEW YORK (AP) — Defense contractor Lockheed Martin has agreed to pay $29.5 million to settle claims by President Donald Trump’s administration that it discriminated against whit...