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Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) Federal Contractors Whistleblowers

Wiley Rein LLP

DOJ Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Targets "Illegal DEI" Programs via the False Claims Act

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative in a Memorandum issued on May 19, 2025. According to the Memorandum, the Initiative is an enforcement effort that will use the...more

McCarter & English Blog: Government Contracts...

Through the Looking Glass: Shifting DEI Standards Expose Contractors to False Claims Act Risk

There is a growing sense of confusion and unease among many federal contractors and grant recipients in these early days of the second Trump administration. In a time when some agencies face dislocation and downsizing (or, as...more

Carlton Fields

DOJ Forms Civil Rights Fraud Initiative: A New Branch of False Claims Act Enforcement

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On May 19, 2025, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the formation of a Civil Rights Fraud Initiative “to investigate and, as appropriate, pursue claims against any recipient of federal funds that knowingly...more

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP

DOJ Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Set to Target Federal Government Contractors and Grantees

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the “Initiative”), which was announced on May 19, 2025 via Memorandum from Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, and a related press release...more

Buchalter

DOJ’s New Civil Rights Fraud Initiative: What Organizations Should Know

Buchalter on

The Department of Justice has launched an aggressive new enforcement strategy that could dramatically influence how organizations approach diversity programs, student policies, and civil rights compliance. On May 19, 2025,...more

Saul Ewing LLP

DOJ Announces New Initiative to Use False Claims Act to Enforce Administration’s Civil Rights Agenda, Targeting Recipients of...

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On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a memorandum and accompanying press release announcing its “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative,” designed to vigorously enforce the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”)...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

DOJ Ramps Up Anti-DEI Enforcement

Foley & Lardner LLP on

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, outlining its plan to use the civil False Claims Act (FCA) to investigate and pursue claims against those who “certify compliance...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

The Department of Justice Slams Open the Door for False Claims Act Enforcement of DEI Initiatives

The Trump Administration has continued to target diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives as an affront to civil rights legislation. In a previous post, we discussed President Trump’s Executive Order 14173 – titled...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

DOJ Creates Initiative to Pursue Aggressive False Claims Act Enforcement Against DEI Programs and Civil Rights Violations

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Deputy Attorney General issued a memorandum (the “Memo”) announcing a Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the “Initiative”) and instructing the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to pursue False Claims...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

DOJ Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Signals Expansive Enforcement Threat for Employers Receiving Federal Funds

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. This is a coordinated enforcement effort aimed at using the False Claims Act (FCA) to investigate and, where appropriate,...more

Polsinelli

Navigating Whistleblower Protections and Compliance with DEI Executive Orders

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As Polsinelli has discussed, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order No. 14151 titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” and Executive Order No. 14173 titled “Ending Radical and...more

Epstein Becker & Green

#WorkforceWednesday®: Federal Contractors Alert - DEI Restrictions Reinstated by Appeals Court - Employment Law This Week®

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This week, we’re focused on federal contractors and the effects that the reinstatement of Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 will have on employers: President Trump’s executive orders against diversity, equity, and inclusion...more

Blank Rome LLP

False Claims Act Liability Based on a DEI Program? Let’s Think It Through

Blank Rome LLP on

One of the more attention-grabbing aspects of Executive Order (“EO”) 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” is the specter of False Claims Act (“FCA”) liability for federal contractors...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

The False Claims Act May Be the Next Weapon in the Trump Administration’s War on DEI

Troutman Pepper Locke on

One day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, on January 21, Trump issued Executive Order 14173, titled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity" (EO 14173). In the text of EO 14173, Trump...more

Paul Hastings LLP

Federal Contractors With DEI Policies at Increased Risk of False Claims Act Liability

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President Donald Trump has signed more than 60 executive orders since taking office, including Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (EO 14173 or the Executive...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

New DEI Executive Order Signals New Potential Enforcement of The False Claims Act

President Trump recently issued Executive Order 14173 titled ​“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (“Order”). The Order broadly aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”)...more

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

Federal Government Contractors May No Longer Have 90 Days to Comply With Trump Administration’s DEI Executive Order

GSA FAR Class Deviations - Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” issued on January 21, 2025, caused immediate confusion for federal government contractors since their...more

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

DEI Executive Order Implies Threat of FCA Litigation

On January 21, 2025, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 14173 focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) programs and their use in the public and private sectors. This Executive Order links compliance...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Employers Should Plan for the Impact of Evolving Social Policy on Their Workforce

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Even before the 2024 presidential election and the recent wave of executive orders, employers were evaluating their positions on various social issues. Whether taking a formal stand, abstaining from a position, or landing...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

What Federal Contractors and Grant Recipients Need to Know About EO 14173’s Certification and Nondiscrimination...

Executive Order (EO) 14173 “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” creates new obligations that could carry significant risks for any organization doing business with the United States federal...more

Maynard Nexsen

Ensuring Adequate Compliance Mechanisms in the Wake of President Trump’s DEI-Related Initiatives

Maynard Nexsen on

On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (“DEIA”) initiatives. On February 5, 2025, Attorney...more

Hogan Lovells

Executive Order seeks to impose FCA liability for contractor and grantee DEI programs

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On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (EO 14173). In commentary published since then, Hogan Lovells has analyzed various...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

New Administration Outlook: What Should Federal Contractors Do With Their DEI Programs?

Recipients of federal funding now have broad mandates but little guidance from the Trump Administration about employer DEI programs. Trump's new Executive Order "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based...more

Mintz - Employment Viewpoints

The False Claims Act and President Trump’s DEI Executive Order: Federal Contractor Employers Must Take Notice

In the wake of President Trump’s “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” Executive Order (the “Executive Order”) (discussed further here), many companies are in the process of revisiting their...more

Perkins Coie

Trump DEI Executive Order Signals Risks of False Claims Act Liability for Government Contractors and Grantees

Perkins Coie on

Among the many issues raised by President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14173 (“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”) targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs is the prospect...more

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