The FBI has agreed to a $22 million settlement with female recruits who alleged harassment and discrimination during their training at Quantico, Virginia. The class-action lawsuit, which dates back to 2019, has cast a spotlight on the internal culture of the FBI and raised questions about its leadership.
The women involved in the lawsuit reported being subjected to inappropriate remarks and unfair evaluations by male instructors. Some were told to “smile more” while others were falsely accused of misconduct. The plaintiffs argued that they were held to higher standards than their male counterparts and were unjustly dismissed.
David J. Shaffer, the attorney for the recruits, emphasized that the harassment is part of a long-standing problem within the FBI’s training academy. An internal report released in 2022 confirmed many of the lawsuit’s claims, including the existence of a “Good Old Boy Network” that enabled discriminatory behavior.
As part of the settlement, the FBI has agreed to an external review to reform its training procedures. The women involved in the lawsuit will also be allowed to return to training and will have the opportunity to secure positions in their preferred offices if they meet the qualifications.
The settlement is just the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the FBI, which has come under fire for its handling of several high-profile cases. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice criticized the FBI for its failure to address cases of child sex abuse, further undermining public confidence in the agency.
