FEDERAL CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE ALERT: $25 Million Accenture Settlement – Civil Rights Noncompliance Can Become False Claims Act Exposure

Federal contractors should take notice. On September 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Accenture Federal Services, Accenture plc, and Accenture LLP agreed to pay $25 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by failing to comply with nondiscrimination requirements in federal contracts while allegedly discriminating in employment…
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Part I: What Recent DOJ Investigations Reveal About Compliance Risks for Federal Contractors

Recent actions by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) should serve as a wake-up call for federal contractors and employers nationwide. In June 2026, the DOJ launched an investigation into alleged race discrimination at the City University of New York (CUNY) involving its Black Male Initiative program. The Department is examining whether educational opportunities and…
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A New Enforcement Focus: When “Preference” Becomes Discrimination Against U.S. Workers

When employers think about discrimination risk, they usually focus on familiar protected categories such as race, sex, ethnicity, age, disability, or religion. But a recent settlement announced by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) underscores a growing and less understood enforcement area: discrimination against U.S. workers based on citizenship and…
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DOJ Suit Against MPS Highlights Employers’ Obligation to Maintain Merit-Based, Identity-Neutral Employment Practices

On Dec. 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), alleging unlawful race- and sex-based employment practices embedded in the district’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). According to the complaint, MPS prioritized teachers who belonged to “underrepresented populations,” set explicit numerical staffing goals for “BIPOC” employees, and…
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DOJ Issues Long-Awaited Guidance on Unlawful Discrimination for Federal Fund Recipients

The U.S. Department of Justice, under Attorney General Bondi, has just released its long-anticipated Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination, issued today, July 29, 2025.  This guidance is a game-changer for all entities receiving federal funds, including federal contractors, educational institutions, and state/local agencies. It outlines what is now considered unlawful discriminatory…
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