The Federal Bureau of Investigation has agreed to pay $22.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 34 women who claimed they were unfairly dismissed from the agency’s agent training academy because of their gender. The women alleged that despite performing as well as or better than their male counterparts on various tests, they were still deemed unsuitable for graduation. Some also reported experiencing sexual harassment and sexist behavior during their time in the training program.
The settlement, which still needs to be approved by a federal judge, would not only provide financial compensation but also allow eligible class members to seek reinstatement to the training program. Additionally, the FBI would be required to hire outside experts to ensure the fairness of their evaluation process for trainees.
Lawyer David J. Shaffer, who originally filed the lawsuit, praised the women for holding the FBI accountable and expressed regret for those who may not seek reinstatement due to rebuilding their careers elsewhere. Lead plaintiff Paula Bird expressed satisfaction in achieving a measure of justice through the settlement, which she hopes will give future women in the program a fair chance at fulfilling their career dreams.
This settlement comes in the wake of a report on gender equity in the FBI’s training programs in 2022, as well as a separate settlement earlier this year related to the mishandling of sexual abuse allegations by the agency. Overall, the FBI has denied any wrongdoing but has taken steps to improve gender equity in its agent training programs in recent years.
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