Accenture Settles DOJ Claims Over Alleged Diversity Discrimination for $25 Million
Accenture has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that it violated anti-discrimination laws in federal contracts by incorporating race and sex into hiring, promotion, and training decisions between 2017 and the present. The DOJ claimed Accenture Federal Services used internal reports with color-coded metrics to track diversity goals across teams, influencing hiring practices. The firm also allegedly prioritized candidates who advanced demographic targets during promotions and operated restricted eligibility programs for mentoring and training based on race or sex. Accenture denied wrongdoing but emphasized its cooperation in the matter. This settlement is part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration involving major consulting firms like Deloitte ($21.5 million) and IBM ($17 million), who also reached similar agreements over diversity-related allegations.
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Topics: discrimination diversity DOJ settlement federal contracts