News & Analysis as of

Whistleblowers Federal Contractors Employment Discrimination

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Blowing the Whistle: What Employers Should Know About DEI & the False Claims Act

The U.S. Department of Justice announced its new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative with the goal to identify entities defrauding the government by knowingly violating civil rights laws. The DOJ is specifically targeting employers...more

PilieroMazza PLLC

New False Claims Act Threats: 5 Key Takeaways from DOJ’s Initiative Targeting DEI and Antisemitism

PilieroMazza PLLC on

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memorandum launching a new enforcement program known as the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the Initiative). Furthering the Trump Administration’s direct targeting of...more

McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

The Civil Rights Fraud Initiative: Adding “Teeth” to the Enforcement of Trump’s Executive Orders Against Illegal DEI

On May 19, 2025, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum launching the “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” (the “CRFI”). The CRFI outlines how individuals can pursue claims against federally funded...more

McCarter & English Blog: Government Contracts...

Through the Looking Glass: Shifting DEI Standards Expose Contractors to False Claims Act Risk

There is a growing sense of confusion and unease among many federal contractors and grant recipients in these early days of the second Trump administration. In a time when some agencies face dislocation and downsizing (or, as...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

Foley & Lardner LLP

DOJ Ramps Up Anti-DEI Enforcement

Foley & Lardner LLP on

On May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, outlining its plan to use the civil False Claims Act (FCA) to investigate and pursue claims against those who “certify compliance...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

The Department of Justice Slams Open the Door for False Claims Act Enforcement of DEI Initiatives

The Trump Administration has continued to target diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives as an affront to civil rights legislation. In a previous post, we discussed President Trump’s Executive Order 14173 – titled...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

DOJ Creates Initiative to Pursue Aggressive False Claims Act Enforcement Against DEI Programs and Civil Rights Violations

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Deputy Attorney General issued a memorandum (the “Memo”) announcing a Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the “Initiative”) and instructing the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to pursue False Claims...more

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

DOJ Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Signals Expansive Enforcement Threat for Employers Receiving Federal Funds

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. This is a coordinated enforcement effort aimed at using the False Claims Act (FCA) to investigate and, where appropriate,...more

Epstein Becker & Green

#WorkforceWednesday®: Federal Contractors Alert - DEI Restrictions Reinstated by Appeals Court - Employment Law This Week®

Epstein Becker & Green on

This week, we’re focused on federal contractors and the effects that the reinstatement of Executive Orders 14151 and 14173 will have on employers: President Trump’s executive orders against diversity, equity, and inclusion...more

Blank Rome LLP

False Claims Act Liability Based on a DEI Program? Let’s Think It Through

Blank Rome LLP on

One of the more attention-grabbing aspects of Executive Order (“EO”) 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” is the specter of False Claims Act (“FCA”) liability for federal contractors...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

The False Claims Act May Be the Next Weapon in the Trump Administration’s War on DEI

Troutman Pepper Locke on

One day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, on January 21, Trump issued Executive Order 14173, titled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity" (EO 14173). In the text of EO 14173, Trump...more

Paul Hastings LLP

Federal Contractors With DEI Policies at Increased Risk of False Claims Act Liability

Paul Hastings LLP on

President Donald Trump has signed more than 60 executive orders since taking office, including Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (EO 14173 or the Executive...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

New DEI Executive Order Signals New Potential Enforcement of The False Claims Act

President Trump recently issued Executive Order 14173 titled ​“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (“Order”). The Order broadly aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”)...more

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

DEI Executive Order Implies Threat of FCA Litigation

On January 21, 2025, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 14173 focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) programs and their use in the public and private sectors. This Executive Order links compliance...more

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

What Federal Contractors and Grant Recipients Need to Know About EO 14173’s Certification and Nondiscrimination...

Executive Order (EO) 14173 “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” creates new obligations that could carry significant risks for any organization doing business with the United States federal...more

Hogan Lovells

Executive Order seeks to impose FCA liability for contractor and grantee DEI programs

Hogan Lovells on

On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (EO 14173). In commentary published since then, Hogan Lovells has analyzed various...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

New Administration Outlook: What Should Federal Contractors Do With Their DEI Programs?

Recipients of federal funding now have broad mandates but little guidance from the Trump Administration about employer DEI programs. Trump's new Executive Order "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based...more

Mintz - Employment Viewpoints

The False Claims Act and President Trump’s DEI Executive Order: Federal Contractor Employers Must Take Notice

In the wake of President Trump’s “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” Executive Order (the “Executive Order”) (discussed further here), many companies are in the process of revisiting their...more

Perkins Coie

Trump DEI Executive Order Signals Risks of False Claims Act Liability for Government Contractors and Grantees

Perkins Coie on

Among the many issues raised by President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14173 (“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”) targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs is the prospect...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP - Government...

President Trump’s DEI Certification for Federal Contractors Creates Significant FCA Risk

On January 21, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (the “Order”), rescinding affirmative action under Executive Order 11246 and other...more

Miller Nash LLP

Federal Contractors Must Address New Executive Order on DEI to Avoid Liability

Miller Nash LLP on

The January 21, 2025 Executive Order (EO), titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” was released and carries significant implications for federal contractors. Some of the implications for...more

DLA Piper

President Trump’s Executive Orders suggest new targets for False Claims Act enforcement

DLA Piper on

On February 21, 2025, the federal district court in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction in a case brought by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, among others. The case challenges the...more

Foley Hoag LLP

Understanding the False Claims Act Implications of President Trump’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related Executive Orders

Foley Hoag LLP on

I. Scope of Executive Order 14173 - Executive Order 14173, issued on January 21, 2025, aims to end illegal discrimination and restore merit-based opportunities by ceasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies,...more

Baker Donelson

Navigating the Trump Administration's Executive Orders: Key Implications for Employers and Federal Contractors

Baker Donelson on

The unprecedented pace at which the Trump administration is issuing Executive Orders (EO) that have far-reaching impacts on longstanding employment laws and practices has left employers scrambling to determine which area...more

29 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 2

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide