Overview

• The Department of Justice announced the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative to address violations of civil rights laws by recipients of federal funds.
• The initiative will use the False Claims Act to pursue financial penalties, including treble damages, against institutions found noncompliant.
• Harvard University is currently under investigation for its admissions policies following a Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.
• The effort is co-led by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division and Civil Fraud Section, with all 93 U.S. Attorney offices required to assign prosecutors to the initiative.
• Whistleblowers are encouraged to file qui tam lawsuits under the False Claims Act and may receive a share of recovered funds if successful.