Latest news with #CivilRightsFraudInitiative
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Donald Trump is creating a ‘civil rights' initiative to target DEI programs in the private sector
Good morning! The Trump administration took aim earlier this year at diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the private sector. And last week, it took another step towards creating a way to crack down on federal contractors with DEI programs. On May 19, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the establishment of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which will use the False Claims Act to 'investigate and, as appropriate, pursue claims against any recipient of federal funds that knowingly violates federal civil rights laws.' The initiative will be co-led by the DOJ's Civil Division's Fraud Section and the Civil Rights Division, and each group will be tasked with identifying a team of attorneys to 'aggressively pursue this work.' 'America has watched a tidal wave of anti-Semitism sweep our universities and seen public institutions codify inherently divisive policies like DEI at an unprecedented rate,' Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a statement. 'The days of using federal funds to further discrimination are over.' Traditionally, the False Claims Act is used to combat fraud, such as the misuse of federal funds in billing, procurement, or administration, according to Kate Driscoll, a lawyer and partner at Morrison Foerster's investigations and white collar defense practice group, who previously served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. For example, if a manufacturing company said they would provide a certain number of products to the government and underdelivers, or a health care provider bills Medicare for services it never provided. Using the law as a way to target companies over their DEI programs, according to Driscoll, is unprecedented. 'This really is a novel extension of the False Claims Act to address an enforcement priority for this new administration, and address what it views as unlawful DEI,' says Driscoll. 'The DOJ bases investigations on a preponderance of evidence, so these claims are easy to prove and the damages are tremendous.' Trump's missives from earlier this year, as well as a May memorandum, make it clear that the DOJ is looking for the public's help in calling out institutions over their DEI practices. Any individual with knowledge of discrimination by federal funding recipients are 'strongly encouraged' by the department to file whistleblower claims against an organization for their DEI programs. These individuals are even financially incentivized to do so. Penalties for violating the False Claims Act include both civil penalties and potential for damages of up to three times the government's losses. The DOJ says it obtained close to $3 billion in settlements and judgments from general claims during the 2024 fiscal year. Whistleblowers can receive up to 30% of what the government recovers. It's important to note, however, that the Trump administration is targeting 'illegal' DEI programs, which would have already been a liability long before any presidential missives. And many companies have spent the fast few months making sure their DEI initiatives are airtight. But companies that receive federal funds will have to figure out in advance how they may handle a DEI 'fraud' claim, should it arise, says Vanessa Matsis-McCready, associate general counsel and vice president of human resources for Engage PEO, an HR outsourcing platform. 'Best practice is to routinely evaluate corporate programs to ensure they are not disparately impacting any particular groups, and that they are applied consistently in a business neutral manner,' she says. 'It is also recommended that employers reiterate reporting procedures, review all complaints or concerns that are raised and investigate further when appropriate.' Brit This story was originally featured on
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
DOJ Says It Its Investigating Chicago Mayor's Hiring Practices
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it would launch a civil rights investigation into Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office over allegations that he engaged in race-based discrimination when hiring. In a 'If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question of whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions,' Dhillon wrote to him. During remarks at a 'No, what I'm saying is when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else,' Johnson said, adding, 'We are the most generous people on the planet.' Johnson also noted that his chief operations officer, his deputy mayor, his planning and development manager, his budget director, a senior adviser, and several other top officials are all black. The mayor also said that he was making hiring decisions to 'ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business,' which was cited as a possible reason to launch an investigation in the DOJ letter. Related Stories 5/20/2025 5/20/2025 In response to Dhillon's letter, Johnson The mayor also said that his administration 'reflects the country' and his city, and then he offered criticism of the White House staff, according to the video. Meanwhile, the DOJ on Monday announced a new initiative to target diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and anti-Semitism on college campuses and within other institutions. The DOJ launched a new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which will use the False Claims Act that was enacted in 1863 to investigate 'any recipient of federal funds that knowingly violates federal civil rights laws.' 'Institutions that take federal money only to allow anti-Semitism and promote divisive DEI policies are putting their access to federal funds at risk,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a The initiative will combine the DOJ's Civil Rights Division and Civil Fraud Section, said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who made reference to what he said was anti-Semitic incidents across college campuses in recent years following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel by Hamas. Describing the initiative, Blanche said it will work to 'identify and root out instances in which recipients of federal funds fail to uphold their basic obligations under federal civil rights laws.' 'The days of using federal funds to further discrimination are over,' said Blanche, who had served as President Donald Trump's defense attorney during his New York criminal trial last year. In a The DOJ's announcement is part of a broader Trump administration initiative to root out DEI in institutions by withholding federal funding. Earlier this year, Trump signed a handful of executive orders that target both federal government agencies and contractors. Reuters contributed to this report.
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
DOJ Launches Initiative to Target Federally Funded Institutions Over DEI, Anti-Semitism
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on May 19 that it has launched the 'Civil Rights Fraud Initiative' to investigate and potentially punish federally funded institutions whose policies promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as anti-Semitism. In a The False Claims Act is a federal law that holds a person liable for defrauding the government. It also allows private citizens to sue on behalf of the government, known as qui tam suits , and potentially receive a portion of recovered funds. The memo stated that any federally funded university that 'encourages antisemitism, refuses to protect Jewish students, allows men to intrude into women's bathrooms, or requires women to compete against men in athletic competitions' could violate the False Claims Act. Colleges and universities risk losing their access to federal funding if they are found to be 'discriminating against their students' through anti-Semitism and DEI policies, according to the memo. The initiative will be co-led by the DOJ's Civil Fraud Section, which enforces the False Claims Act, and the Civil Rights Division, which enforces civil rights laws. The divisions will cooperate with other federal agencies to identify institutions that violate the law. Related Stories 3/11/2025 5/2/2025 Blanche said that each division will assign a team of attorneys to 'aggressively pursue' investigations, and each of the country's 93 U.S. attorneys' offices will need to designate an assistant U.S. attorney to support these efforts. 'America has watched a tidal wave of anti-Semitism sweep our universities and seen public institutions codify inherently divisive policies like DEI at an unprecedented rate,' he said in a The move follows an executive In his order, Trump stated that the former administration had forced 'illegal and immoral discrimination programs' across virtually 'all aspects of the federal government' through DEI initiatives. 'The public release of these plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination. That ends today,' the president stated. Trump issued another The order states that 'Jewish students have faced an unrelenting barrage of discrimination; denial of access to campus common areas and facilities, including libraries and classrooms; and intimidation, harassment, and physical threats and assault' amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which broke out after the Hamas terrorist group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, prompting Israel's military to launch a counteroffensive against Hamas in the strip. In March, the Department of Education published a list of 60 institutions of higher education currently under The department warned that institutions could face enforcement actions if they fail to meet obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits recipients of federal funds from operating programs that promote discrimination based on race, color, and national origin.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ to use False Claims Act to crack down on diversity initiatives at colleges
The Trump administration intends to use a civil anti-fraud law to investigate and potentially punish and withdraw federal funding from universities that promote diversity and inclusion policies, the Department of Justice announced Monday. In a memo, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the False Claims Act –– part of the government's establishment of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative –– will be enforced 'when a federal contractor or recipient of federal funds knowingly violates civil rights laws.' Blanche in the memo cites antisemitism and certain access to women's sports on campuses as potential examples of when the False Claims Act could be implemented, describing such cases as discriminatory or assigning 'benefits or burdens' based on race and ethnicity. The Department of Justice will broadly seek fines and damages in cases where violations are found and will also consider criminal enforcement for certain breaches, the memo said. The False Claims Act dates to the Civil War and allows the government to recover funds up to three times the damages it incurs, in addition to penalties, lost due to fraud, according to the DOJ. The Justice Department's announcement is part of President Donald Trump's broader ambition to purge universities of diversity initiatives by withholding critical education funds. Dozens of schools across the country have already appeased the administration –– some abruptly ending DEI initiatives, laying off university staff and banning the use of words like 'equality' and 'gender,' which might trigger an uproar. Those efforts, however, haven't spared them from mass funding cuts. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who last month issued a memo directing the DOJ to limit gender-affirming care for minors, backed the new initiative, warning universities that promote DEI policies that they are 'putting their access to federal funds at risk,' according to a statement. In an effort to restore its more than $2 billion in blocked federal funding, Harvard University in late April renamed its diversity, equity and inclusion office to the Office of Community and Campus Life. The school also said it wouldn't host or fund affinity group celebrations during commencement after the Department of Education threatened funding cuts if Harvard did not cancel graduation celebrations that could separate students by race. In a letter to Harvard last week, the Justice Department said the Trump administration was investigating whether the school's admissions process had been used to defraud the government by not complying with a Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action, according to The New York Times. The letter, which was reviewed by the Times, stated that the investigation was launched under the False Claims Act.
