FBI Settles $22 Million Discrimination Lawsuit

The FBI has agreed to a $22 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed by 34 female recruits who alleged sexual discrimination and harassment at the FBI training academy in Quantico, Virginia. The lawsuit, filed in 2019, claimed that female trainees were subjected to a hostile work environment, including sexually charged comments, false allegations, and unfair dismissals. Many of these allegations were corroborated by a 2022 internal watchdog report. As part of the settlement, the FBI will allow the plaintiffs to resume training and ensure placements in their preferred field offices if they pass. The bureau has also committed to an external review to ensure fair evaluation processes for female recruits. This settlement marks one of the largest in FBI history and aims to bring significant changes to the agency's culture and practices.