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Educational Institutions Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) Civil Rights Act

Blank Rome LLP

Department of Justice Announces New Initiative to Combat Civil Rights Fraud Using the False Claims Act

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From time to time, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has established initiatives, task forces, or strike teams to advance its enforcement priorities. In recent years, DOJ has announced a Procurement Collusion Strike Force, a...more

A&O Shearman

DOJ Announces Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Targeting Federal Fund Recipients’ Use Of DEI

A&O Shearman on

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced its plan to use the False Claims Act to investigate and pursue claims of civil rights violations against federal fund recipients. The plan, entitled the Civil...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

DOJ’s Plan to Use the False Claims Act to Address Civil Rights Fraud

Husch Blackwell LLP on

According to a memorandum issued on May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) will use the False Claims Act as a tool to enforce federal civil rights laws. The new policy memo has serious potential implications for...more

Baker Donelson

DOJ Expands DEI Crackdown with New Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Centered on False Claims Act Enforcement

Baker Donelson on

In our prior client alert, we examined the growing risk that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would deploy the False Claims Act (FCA) to pursue entities that receive federal funds and operate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion...more

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

New DOJ Initiative Expands FCA Use to Enforce Civil Rights Compliance and Target DEI Initiatives

The U.S. Department of Justice is recasting the False Claims Act as a civil rights enforcement tool—putting federal fund recipients on notice that false compliance certifications may now trigger FCA liability....more

Troutman Pepper Locke

The False Claims Act Enters the School Zone

Troutman Pepper Locke on

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the launch of a Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which will use the False Claims Act (FCA) as a basis for investigating the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Department of Justice Announces False Claims Act Crackdown on DEI Policies

The United States Department of Justice recently announced that it would begin “vigorous enforcement” of the False Claims Act against recipients of federal funds for their use of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The...more

Littler

DOJ Outlines Plans to Enforce the False Claims Act Against Recipients of Federal Funds that Knowingly Violate Civil Rights Laws

Littler on

On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum, Deputy Attorney General Blanche Memo: Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, announcing an initiative to “utilize the False Claims Act to investigate and, as...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

DOJ Announces New Initiative Aimed at Entities Receiving Federal Funds; Specifically Targets Higher Ed

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On May 19, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced via a memo titled “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” (the Memo) an initiative to use the False Claims Act (FCA) against federal contractors and recipients of federal funds...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

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Department of Justice Launches “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” to Target DEI Through False Claims Act

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

On Monday, May 19, 2025, Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum establishing the “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” (the “Memorandum”), in the latest signal that DOJ intends to...more

Foley Hoag LLP

DOJ Formalizes Plan to Use False Claims Act to Enforce “Civil Rights Fraud”

Foley Hoag LLP on

Key Takeaways: - The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the creation of a new initiative focused on using the False Claims Act (“FCA”) to pursue “Civil Rights Fraud.” - DOJ warned FCA claims could arise when a...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Achieving DEI Compliance…On Your Website

Foley & Lardner LLP on

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) efforts, and the term itself, have become increasingly scrutinized and subjected to legal challenges by both government and private actors, making an understanding of the current DEI...more

Saul Ewing LLP

Harvard University Sues Trump Administration Over Federal Funding Freeze

Saul Ewing LLP on

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to freeze more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts benefitting Harvard. The funding freeze came after Harvard refused a list...more

Franczek P.C.

Week in Review – New Developments from the Dept. Of Ed., More Enforcement Actions by the EEOC and DOJ, and Additional Challenges...

Franczek P.C. on

It was another big week for the Department of Education, with President Trump signing an Executive Order on Thursday instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take actions to “close” the Department. President Trump’s...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Attending to EEOC’s New Workplace Focus: Antisemitism on College Campuses

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Acting Chair Andrea Lucas issued a statement on March 17, 2025, notifying universities and colleges that the EEOC intends to hold them accountable for antisemitism in on-campus...more

Miller Canfield

Executive Order to Close the Department of Education: What It Means for Your School

Miller Canfield on

On March 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order (“EO”) titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” directing the Secretary of Education to undertake all...more

Fisher Phillips

Will My School Face Investigation? Feds Announce Race-Based Investigations Into 52 Higher Education Institutions

Fisher Phillips on

A federal civil rights agency just announced that it will be investigating more than 50 higher ed institutions to determine whether they violated federal law by making race-based decisions in their graduate and scholarship...more

Franczek P.C.

Week in Review – Major Announcement from the Department of Education, Continued Agency Changes, and More DEI Related Actions

Franczek P.C. on

Headlines this week largely focused on the Department of Education, and rightfully so. As announced on Tuesday, President Trump’s administration terminated over 1,300 Department of Education employees this week – nearly 50%...more

TNG Consulting

Why Title VI Training is Necessary Now 

TNG Consulting on

An ATIXA Testimonial by Alexis Piñero-Benson, University of New Hampshire  Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel and the ongoing geopolitical conflict, many colleges and universities witnessed a surge of...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

What Medical Schools and Hospitals Should Know About HHS OCR’s Newly Announced DEI-Targeted Investigations

Husch Blackwell LLP on

On March 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) had initiated four investigations into unnamed medical schools and hospitals over allegations that the...more

Cozen O'Connor

Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O'Connor (3/12)

Cozen O'Connor on

Illinois schools turn to retirees, substitutes, outsourcing & state grants to combat prolonged teacher shortage - “From hiring retired educators to adjusting class offerings, Illinois schools are relying on a variety of...more

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

South Carolina House and Senate Introduce Legislation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

State legislators have introduced bills in the South Carolina House of Representatives and South Carolina Senate to amend Title 1, Chapter 1 of the South Carolina Code by adding sections addressing diversity, equity, and...more

Littler

OCR Issues FAQs for Schools About Avoiding Racial Preferences Under Title VI

Littler on

After giving educational institutions two weeks to comply with the Department of Education’s Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), on February 28, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued Frequently Asked Questions About Racial...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance Clarifies Discriminatory Activities Subject to Investigation and Funding Consequences

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

Following its February 14, 2025, “Dear Colleague Letter,”outlining DEI programs that could result in a loss of federal funding by February 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (the “Department”)...more

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