News & Analysis as of

Civil Rights Act Universities Federal Funding

Foster Swift Collins & Smith

DEIA Executive Orders and the Consequences for Educational Institutions

On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14173: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunities (“EO 14173”). EO 14173 aims to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) and...more

Venable LLP

Legal Showdown: Harvard and Trump Administration Spar Over Alleged Federal Civil Rights Violations, Federal Funding Freeze

Venable LLP on

Since President Trump's return to office in January, his administration has intensified efforts to combat antisemitism on college campuses, positioning the issue as a central pillar of its civil rights agenda....more

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Justice Department’s “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” Increases False Claims Act Risks Related to Alleged Discrimination

Vinson & Elkins LLP on

On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum announcing the creation of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the Initiative), which directs DOJ attorneys to utilize the...more

Williams Mullen

Institutions of Higher Education Face Increased Exposure to False Claims Act Violations

Williams Mullen on

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice announced the establishment of a Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, created to enforce the False Claims Act (FCA) “against those who defraud the United States by taking its money while...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

False Claims Act Reimagined: DOJ Pursues Civil Rights Fraud in Higher Education and Government Contracts

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unveiled the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, a new enforcement strategy aimed at leveraging the False Claims Act to hold colleges, universities, government contractors, and...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

White & Case LLP

DOJ Launches Civil Rights Fraud Initiative by Leveraging the False Claims Act: What Federal Fund Recipients Should Know

White & Case LLP on

On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the Department of Justice’s launch of a sweeping Civil Rights Fraud Initiative designed to hold federal contractors, grant recipients, and other federally funded...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

Fisher Phillips

New Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Puts More Pressure on Higher Ed and K-12 Schools Receiving Federal Funding: What to Do in...

Fisher Phillips on

Federal officials on Monday launched a new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative aimed at schools receiving federal funding, the next step in the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement posture against transgender rights, DEI,...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

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

Ballard Spahr LLP on

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

WilmerHale

DOJ Announces Civil Rights Fraud Initiative: Department Will Seek To Use The False Claims Act To Enforce Civil Rights Laws Against...

WilmerHale on

On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative within the Department of Justice to “utilize the False Claims Act to investigate and, as appropriate, pursue claims against...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

Proskauer - Law and the Workplace

Justice Department Launches Initiative Targeting Contractors’ and Grantees’ DEI Programs, Anti-Semitism, and Transgender Policies

On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum (the “Memorandum”) establishing the Department of Justice’s “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” (the “Initiative”). The program “will utilize the False...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

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

Federal Agencies Target Universities Amid Antisemitism Allegations

The federal government recently revoked all grants and contracts with Columbia University, citing “illegal protests” and antisemitism on campus....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

Fisher Phillips

So You’re Concerned About Losing Federal Funding: 3 Things Schools Should Do Right Now

Fisher Phillips on

Many K-12 and institutes of higher education are concerned about the potential threat to their federal funding given recent changes to the way the government is interpreting existing federal law to achieve certain policy...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

Quarles & Brady LLP

Office for Civil Rights Issues “Dear Colleague” Letter Aimed At Curbing Race-Based Decisions and Benefits At Federally Funded...

Quarles & Brady LLP on

On Friday, February 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter advising federally funded schools that it considers any decisions or benefits based on race,...more

Fisher Phillips

Education Department Kicks Off New Era of Title VI Discrimination Enforcement: What Your School Must Know + 5 Steps to Take Now

Fisher Phillips on

Starting today, the U.S. Department of Education will crack down on “overt and covert racial discrimination” in educational institutions receiving federal funding, according to a February 14 “Dear Colleague” letter issued by...more

Morgan Lewis

US Department of Education Issues Sweeping Guidance on Race-Conscious Practices By Academic Institutions

Morgan Lewis on

The US Department of Education’s (the Department’s) Office for Civil Rights issued a sweeping “Dear Colleague” letter on February 14, 2025 outlining a new zero-tolerance policy for the consideration of race in any regard by...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

U.S. Department of Education To Step Up Scrutiny of Any Educational Institution’s Programs Deemed “DEI”

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

On February 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (the “Department”) issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” to “clarify and reaffirm” that schools, colleges and universities receiving “federal financial...more

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