Quick Hit:  

The FBI has agreed to a $22 million settlement following a class-action lawsuit by female recruits, alleging sexual discrimination and harassment at the Quantico training academy.

Key Details:

• The $22 million settlement will be distributed among 34 women dismissed from FBI training.  
• Lawsuit claims included harassment by male instructors, including inappropriate comments and unfair treatment.  
• The settlement also guarantees some plaintiffs a chance to resume their training and become FBI agents.

Diving Deeper:  

The FBI has agreed to a $22 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that female recruits faced sexual harassment and discriminatory treatment at the bureau's training academy in Quantico, Virginia. Filed in 2019, the lawsuit accused the FBI of fostering a hostile work environment in which female recruits were dismissed more harshly than their male counterparts and subjected to inappropriate comments from instructors.

According to the suit, women faced comments about their appearance, breast size, and unfounded accusations of infidelity. One woman reported being told to “smile more,” while another said an instructor ogled her chest and made suggestive gestures. Attorney David J. Shaffer, who represented the women, noted, “This case will make important major changes in these attitudes.”

The FBI's training academy has long been criticized for perpetuating a "Good Old Boy Network," a claim reinforced by a 2022 internal watchdog report that confirmed many of the lawsuit’s allegations. Despite efforts to diversify, men still account for about 75% of the FBI's special agents.

As part of the settlement, the FBI will allow plaintiffs who wish to continue their training the opportunity to do so, with guaranteed placement in one of their top three preferred field offices if they pass. Independent experts will also review the FBI’s evaluation process to ensure gender fairness.

This settlement is one of the largest in the FBI’s history and follows another high-profile payout earlier this year when the Justice Department agreed to a $138.7 million settlement with survivors of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal. Paula Bird, one of the lead plaintiffs and now a lawyer, said, "I am pleased that this settlement will bring a measure of justice to the women who were unfairly dismissed."

The FBI has stated it has taken “significant steps” to address gender equity and prevent further misconduct at the training academy.