A class action sex discrimination lawsuit filed in 2019 by 34 former FBI agent trainees attending the FBI agent training academy has resulted in a $22.6 million settlement. In addition to paying the monetary award, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to work with experts to review and reform the FBI training programs challenged in the civil complaint.
Specifically, the class action lawsuit accused the FBI of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which in part bars all workplace discrimination based on sex.
The 34 women plaintiffs attended the FBI academy between 2015-2024. They were discharged only weeks before graduation.
In addition to the $22.6 million settlement, the agreement would allow any eligible plaintiffs to seek reentry to the FBI training academy and will mandate that the FBI hires “outside” experts to ensure the program is free of bias.
Paula Bird, one of the 34 who participated in the class action suit, said she is hopeful the FBI will make changes to equalize the playing field between men and women at the academy. “It was a long time coming,” said Ms. Bird. “They finally acknowledged there were problems, and they will hopefully do something about.”
In court documents, the 34 former trainees complained of a methodical practice at the academy of sex bias, which resulted in the trainees’ dismissal. Plaintiffs said that instructors deemed them “weak and prone to failure” which meant they received much lower performance scores for errors that were also made by men, whose errors were allegedly ignored.
Legal documents detail the plaintiffs’ specific negative experiences at the academy, including instances of sexual harassment by their teachers, male classmates, and field counselors. Some of the harassment included invasive sexist comments about the female’s physical appearance; inappropriate sexual jokes and pushing female trainees to have sex with some of the men.
Jennifer Mondino, senior director of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund at the National Women’s Law Center, said that the FBI participated in sex bias that sends a toxic message to the public.
“The FBI’s perpetuation of the myth that women are less capable than men to become agents is emblematic of the sex discrimination that persists in many male-dominated professions and sends a dangerous message that sex discrimination is permissible,” said Ms. Mondino. “For years, qualified women training to become FBI agents were undervalued and forced out simply because of their sex. But now, because this group of brave women exposed the FBI’s toxic culture of discrimination, the FBI will finally be required to start leveling the playing field for women. We’re proud that we could support this group of women in bringing this groundbreaking class action lawsuit.”
Despite settling the case, the FBI denies all wrongdoing. In a statement, the FBI says it has instituted major changes over the last five years to ensure gender equality in its FBI trainee program.
In April, a report released by the Department of Justice revealed that less than 25 percent of FBI agents are female.
