Accenture to pay $25 million to settle US government allegations over DEI

Accenture, the IT consulting firm, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle U.S. government allegations regarding its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. The settlement, announced on Monday, includes civil penalties and interest at a rate of 4% per annum, commencing from September 9, 2026. The agreement was signed by both the U.S. Department of Justice and Accenture.

The Trump administration has been targeting DEI practices in various organizations, including public and private entities, such as government agencies and universities. These organizations are accused of prioritizing DEI over merit-based criteria, which civil rights advocates claim help address historic inequities for marginalized groups, including women, the LGBT community, and ethnic minorities. The White House views DEI as anti-merit and discriminatory against white people and men.

Trump has signed executive orders urging federal contractors and subcontractors to eliminate DEI practices. Many U.S. companies, including Deloitte and IBM, have agreed to pay significant sums to settle similar U.S. government probes into their DEI practices. Accenture, however, maintains that it complied with applicable laws and that the resolution agreement does not constitute an admission of liability.

The company stated that it cooperated with the government's review and is pleased to resolve the matter, thereby avoiding the costs and resource demands of prolonged litigation.