Quick Hit: A complaint has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, contending that President Trump’s recent Executive Order (the “Order”) barring contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities” violates First Amendment free speech and freedom of association rights of federal contractors, and exceeds
DOJ Resolves First DEI-Related False Claims Act Matter with IBM for $17 Million
By Guy Brenner & Rachel Edelson on
Quick Hit: On April 10, 2026, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced the first False Claims Act (“FCA”) resolution secured under its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative. The settlement resolves allegations that International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) violated the FCA “by failing to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in its federal…
Proposal Will Require Federal Grant Recipients to Certify DEI Compliance Requirements to Register with System for Award Management
By Guy Brenner & Rachel Edelson on
Quick Hit: A proposed change to the certification required for registration with the System for Award Management (“SAM”), if adopted, will expand the certifications required for entities applying for or receiving grants, cooperative agreements, or financial assistance such as loans, insurance, and direct appropriations from the federal government. The…