IBM settles its DEI lawsuit with the DOJ for $17 million
IBM will pay $17 million to settle DOJ accusations of discriminatory DEI practices in its employment decisions.Summary
IBM has agreed to a $17 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve allegations that its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices violated civil rights laws. The DOJ accused IBM of considering “race, color, national origin, or sex” when making employment decisions, citing practices like altering interview criteria and tying bonuses to demographic targets. IBM denies any wrongdoing, stating the settlement is not an admission of liability, while the DOJ maintains the settlement doesn't concede the weakness of its claims. This case stems from a broader effort initiated during the Trump administration to challenge DEI programs, and represents one of the first resolutions from the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative launched in May 2025. Other companies, including T-Mobile and Meta, have also recently altered their DEI initiatives.
(Source：Google News)