The Federal Bureau of Investigation has agreed to pay $22.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 34 women who were dismissed from the agency’s agent training academy due to their sex. The lawsuit claimed that the FBI had a widespread practice of forcing out female trainees, despite the fact that some of them performed as well as or better than male trainees on various tests. The women also reported experiencing sexual harassment and sexist behavior during their time at the academy.
The proposed settlement not only includes monetary compensation but also allows eligible class members to seek reinstatement to the agent training program. Additionally, the FBI will hire outside experts to ensure fairness in its evaluation process for trainees. The lawsuit alleged that the FBI violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on sex.
Lead plaintiff Paula Bird expressed satisfaction with the settlement, stating that it would bring a measure of justice and create changes that give women a fair shot at pursuing a career as an FBI agent. The settlement comes in the wake of a report on gender equity in the FBI’s training programs and follows a separate settlement in which the Justice Department agreed to pay survivors of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse due to the mishandling of initial allegations by the FBI.
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