By Steve Neavling
The FBI has agreed to pay more than $22 million to resolve a 2019 class-action lawsuit filed by 34 female recruits who allege they were unfairly dismissed from the bureau’s training academy in Quantico, Va., amid a hostile and discriminatory environment.
The settlement, pending approval by a federal judge, is one of the largest in the agency’s history related to workplace harassment, the Associated Press reports.
The women claim they were subjected to sexist remarks about their appearance, including inappropriate comments about their breast size and accusations of infidelity. Some recruits reported being told to take contraception “to control their moods,” while others faced sexual advances and harassment from male instructors.
“These problems are pervasive within the FBI and the attitudes that created them were learned at the academy,” said David J. Shaffer, the lawyer for the women. “This case will make important major changes in these attitudes.”
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, exposed a pattern of gender discrimination, with female recruits reportedly judged more harshly than their male counterparts and frequently singled out for dismissal. According to one plaintiff, an instructor continually stared at her chest and made suggestive gestures. Another recruit was chastised for not smiling enough.
The FBI acknowledged the settlement in a statement Monday, emphasizing that the bureau had implemented significant changes to ensure gender equity in its training programs over the past five years. Despite those efforts, men still represent about 75% of special agents.
As part of the settlement, the FBI will offer some of the plaintiffs the opportunity to reenter the training program with guaranteed job placement upon successful completion. Additionally, the bureau has agreed to an external review to assess fairness in the evaluation process for future recruits.
Lead plaintiff Paula Bird, now an attorney, described the experience as “disillusioning” but expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“This settlement will bring a measure of justice to the women who were unfairly dismissed,” she said.
