News & Analysis as of

Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard College Department of Justice (DOJ)

Hogan Lovells

Attorney General Bondi issues memorandum regarding “unlawful discrimination,” with particular focus on higher education...

Hogan Lovells on

On July 29, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a Memorandum to all Federal Agencies (“Memorandum”) with “guidance for recipients of federal funding regarding unlawful discrimination.” The guidance says it “clarif[ies]”...more

Epstein Becker & Green

“Illegal DEI”: New DOJ Guidance and Its Implications for All Employers

What constitutes “illegal DEI” under the Trump administration? Many employers have been wrestling with this question since the President took office and immediately issued several executive orders (EOs) criticizing diversity,...more

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Attorney General Bondi Issues Guidance to Recipients of Federal Funding “Regarding Unlawful Discrimination”

While some aspects of the Guidance reflect longstanding interpretations of federal antidiscrimination law, it signals an important shift in enforcement priorities. The Guidance states that the use of race-neutral criteria is...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

DOJ Issues Sweeping Memorandum on Unlawful Discrimination

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On July 29, 2025, the U.S. attorney general released a new memorandum providing guidance on the application of federal antidiscrimination laws for recipients of federal funding—including private and public colleges and...more

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

U.S. Attorney General Issues New Guidance on DEI Programs and Policies

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Attorney General issued a memorandum that “clarifies the application of federal antidiscrimination laws to programs or initiatives that may involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled...more

Stevens & Lee

Does Your DEI Program Violate the False Claims Act?

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On May 19, 2025, the DOJ announced the establishment of the “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative,” which seeks to use the False Claims Act (FCA) to investigate, and possibly take civil action against, recipients of federal funds...more

Carlton Fields

DOJ Forms Civil Rights Fraud Initiative: A New Branch of False Claims Act Enforcement

Carlton Fields on

On May 19, 2025, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the formation of a Civil Rights Fraud Initiative “to investigate and, as appropriate, pursue claims against any recipient of federal funds that knowingly...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

DOJ’s Plan to Use the False Claims Act to Address Civil Rights Fraud

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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

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

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Trump Administration Announces New Enforcement Efforts Targeted at DEI

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP on

This week, the Trump administration escalated its enforcement strategy for ending unlawful Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the private sector Consistent with the policy objectives stated in Executive Order...more

Morgan Lewis

DOJ Announces Establishment of Civil Rights Fraud Initiative

Morgan Lewis on

The US Department of Justice announced the establishment of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative on May 19, 2025, which will “utilize the False Claims Act to investigate and, as appropriate, pursue claims against any recipient...more

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

The Future of the False Claims Act

Lowenstein Sandler LLP on

On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum titled Civil Rights Fraud Initiative announcing the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) plan to use the False Claims Act (FCA) to “aggressively” pursue...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

Wiley Rein LLP

“Illegal DEI”: Key Considerations for Higher Education and the Private Sector in the New Administration

Wiley Rein LLP on

On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” The EO raises significant new considerations for private companies and...more

ArentFox Schiff

Three Environmental Law Takeaways on President Trump Ordering DOJ to Rescind Civil Rights ‘Disparate Impact’ Regulations

ArentFox Schiff on

On April 22, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order (EO) directing the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to begin to unwind “disparate impact” regulations that were established under federal civil rights laws. In the...more

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Affinity Groups Potentially Unlawful, According to Recent EEOC and DOJ Guidance

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP on

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on protected characteristics, including race and sex. However, Title VII does not define Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) in the...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

2024 State AGs Year in Review - UPDATED 4/1/25

In 2024, state attorneys general (“State AGs”) focused on a broad variety of areas and industries including, in particular, emerging industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and privacy and social media protections....more

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

DOJ Moves to Challenge Illinois Nonprofit Board Disclosure Law

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been granted judicial leave to intervene in the American Alliance for Equal Rights’ (AAER) suit against the State of Illinois challenging the state’s diversity, equity, and inclusion...more

Venable LLP

DEI and Potential False Claims Act Liability in Higher Education

Venable LLP on

Imagine you're sitting in a conference room with a group of administrators and staff across various schools and departments, discussing budgetary constraints, campus resources, and student group initiatives—a day like any...more

Roetzel & Andress

U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance on DEI Programs in Schools Receiving Federal Funds

Roetzel & Andress on

The legality of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) Programs has come under immense scrutiny beginning with the change in presidential administration. On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued executive order 14173...more

Baker Donelson

Unpacking the U.S. Attorney General's "Ending Illegal DEI and DEIA Discrimination Preferences" Memo

Baker Donelson on

The U.S. Attorney General's Office issued a Memorandum, on February 5, 2025, to the employees of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) directing the DOJ Civil Rights Division to "investigate, eliminate, and penalize illegal...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

What Companies and Higher Education Institutions Need to Know Regarding DOJ’s New Memoranda to Enforce the Administration’s...

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

On February 5, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a series of fourteen policy memoranda directed to all employees of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”). Two are particularly likely to impact companies and higher...more

Clark Hill PLC

Using the First Amendment to Uphold DEI Initiatives

Clark Hill PLC on

In Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 600 U.S. 181 (2023), the Supreme Court all but ended affirmative action and held, inter alia, that race-conscious admissions policies in higher...more

McGuireWoods LLP

Presidential Executive Order Targets DEI in Higher Education

McGuireWoods LLP on

The Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Executive Order (EO) issued on Jan. 22, 2025, takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion programs at institutions of higher education. (McGuireWoods’...more

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