According to the lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, female candidates were more frequently cited for deficiencies than their male counterparts. One trainee reported receiving a “suitability notation” for behavior that a male classmate exhibited without facing discipline. Some male trainees received three or more suitability notations but were not referred to the review board. Female trainees received suitability notations for subjective reasons, such as emotional maturity or assertiveness, while male trainees exhibiting similar behavior were not disciplined. In tactical training scenarios, female trainees were judged more harshly, receiving notations for minor errors, while male trainees committing the same errors were not penalized. Other female candidates claimed instructors gave them lower performance ratings for mistakes that were ignored when made by male trainees. The lawsuit alleged that the FBI’s systemic gender discrimination violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition to the subjective suitability notations, the lawsuit also alleged that female trainees were referred for disciplinary action and dismissed more frequently than similarly situated male trainees. Women discharged from the 20-week basic training program were often not offered opportunities for retraining or retesting, while male candidates were. The lawsuit further claimed that some male trainees challenged instructors’ feedback, even escalating to arguments, without being cursed at, ridiculed, or disciplined. In contrast, female trainees were subjected to harsher treatment. Some instructors reportedly leered at female candidates, winking or staring at a trainee’s chest while licking their lips. After learning of the lawsuit in 2019, the House Judiciary Committee directed the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the claims. In 2022, the Inspector General published a report detailing concerns about the disparate treatment of female candidates at the FBI Academy in Quantico. The report found that female trainees “received a disproportionate number of suitability notations in several areas and were dismissed at rates higher than their overall representation” in basic training. The investigation also uncovered a culture of “inappropriate behavior” in which women were treated differently based on gender stereotypes. “These plaintiffs are dedicated to the FBI’s mission of law enforcement,” said Christine Webber, an attorney with Cohen Milstein, who brought the lawsuit. “But they were also brave enough to call for the FBI to obey the law, including Title VII. Through their determination and leadership, and what we believe is a genuine desire by the FBI to turn the page on the past history of discrimination in new agent training, the parties have reached a settlement agreement that will provide a measure of relief for what these women experienced.” In addition to the multi-million-dollar payout, the settlement allows eligible class members to seek reinstatement to the FBI's new agent training program.The FBI has agreed to a $22.6 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed by 34 women who claimed they were subjected to sex-based discrimination during the agency’s training program at Quantico.
