The FBI has agreed to pay over $22 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by 34 women, alleging they faced sexual discrimination and harassment during their training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
The settlement, still subject to approval by a federal judge, ranks among the largest in the bureau’s history.
The lawsuit, filed in 2019, accuses FBI instructors of singling out female recruits for dismissal and subjecting them to a hostile work environment. Allegations include inappropriate comments about breast size, false claims of infidelity, and telling the women to take contraception “to control their moods.”
An FBI seal is seen on a wall on August 10, 2022, in Omaha, Nebraska. The FBI has agreed to pay $22 million to settle claims of sexual discrimination at its training academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo
“These problems are pervasive within the FBI and the attitudes that created them were learned at the academy,” said David J. Shaffer, attorney for the plaintiffs. “This case will make important major changes in these attitudes.”
The lawsuit contends that female trainees were held to higher standards than their male peers and were “excessively targeted for correction and dismissal in tactical situations for perceived lack of judgment” and subjective “suitability” criteria. One recruit claimed she was told to “smile more” and was repeatedly subjected to sexual advances. Another woman alleged an instructor stared at her chest, “while licking his lips.”
“Through passive tolerance,” the lawsuit says, “the FBI has intentionally allowed the Good Old Boy Network to flourish unrestrained at the FBI Academy.”
The FBI has not publicly commented on the settlement, but many of the allegations were corroborated in a 2022 report by the bureau’s internal watchdog. Men still make up about 75 percent of the FBI’s special agents despite efforts to recruit more women and minorities.
As part of the settlement, the FBI will offer the plaintiffs the opportunity to continue their training and will guarantee job placement in one of their top three preferred field offices for those who pass. Additionally, the bureau has agreed to undergo a review by outside experts to ensure fair evaluation processes for female recruits.
Some of the women have moved on to other careers, but Shaffer said, “the FBI has deprived itself of some genuinely exceptional talent.” Paula Bird, one of the lead plaintiffs who is now a lawyer, said the experience has been “disillusioning” but added, “I’m pleased that this settlement will bring a measure of justice to the women who were unfairly dismissed.”
This lawsuit comes amid broader claims of sexual misconduct within the FBI. In recent years, several senior officials accused of misconduct quietly left the bureau with full benefits. The FBI has since introduced reforms, including a 24 hour tip line for reporting misconduct.
This latest settlement follows the Justice Department’s announcement earlier this year of a $138.7 million settlement with over 100 people who accused the FBI of mishandling allegations of sexual abuse by former sports doctor Larry Nassar.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
