FBI Agrees to $22.6 Million Settlement in Female Trainees' Discrimination Lawsuit

The settlement addresses claims of wrongful dismissal, harassment, and gender bias at the FBI's training academy.

The lawsuit, filed in 2019, involved 34 women who alleged discrimination and harassment at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Plaintiffs claimed they were dismissed despite performing as well as or better than male trainees and faced a hostile work environment.
The settlement includes provisions for reinstatement and guaranteed placement in preferred field offices for eligible class members.
The FBI has denied wrongdoing but stated it has taken steps over the past five years to ensure gender equity in its training programs.
A federal judge must approve the settlement, which follows a 2022 internal watchdog report confirming many of the allegations.