While companies often enter settlements without admitting to alleged misdeeds, this settlement says IBM ended conduct that it denies having ever engaged in. In one sentence, the settlement agreement says that \u201cthe cooperation IBM provided included\u2026 taking voluntary remedial measures, including the termination and\/or modification of various programs, policies, or other activities described in the Covered Conduct.\u201d Two sentences later, the settlement states that \u201cIBM denies that it engaged in the Covered Conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump admin\u2019s aggressive push against DEI<\/p>\n
IBM agreed to pay $17,077,043 to the government within 14 days of the settlement being signed. The amount includes civil penalties and $8.2 million in restitution to the government.<\/p>\n
\u201cRacial discrimination is illegal, and government contractors cannot evade the law by repackaging it as DEI,\u201d Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. \u201cThe department launched the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative to root out this misconduct, hold offenders accountable, and end this practice for good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance against DEI programs that were implemented to help historically underrepresented groups. President Trump has issued several executive orders on DEI, including one last month that targets federal contractors<\/a>.<\/p>\n