{
  "id": 3397412,
  "title": "Deloitte to pay US$21.5mil to settle US government probe over DEI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/deloitte-to-pay-us-21-5mil-to-settle-us-government-probe-over-dei",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-26T01:34:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2026/08/1518853/deloitte-pay-us215mil-settle-us-government-probe-over-dei"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Deloitte, the accounting firm, will pay $21.5 million to settle a US Department of Justice investigation into its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. The settlement comes through the DOJ's Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which targets DEI policies under civil anti-fraud laws. The Trump administration has targeted various organizations over DEI practices, which civil rights advocates claim help address historical inequities for marginalized groups. The White House considers DEI practices to be anti-merit and discriminatory against groups like white people and men, leading Trump to sign executive orders urging federal contractors to eliminate DEI policies. As a result, many US companies scaled back or modified their diversity policies in response to Trump's orders. The DOJ alleged that Deloitte's business units received monthly summaries tracking workforce composition goals, with Partners, Principals, and Managing Directors evaluated based on their contributions to achieving these goals. The DOJ claimed that DEI goals aimed at improving representation of Black and Hispanic communities impacted promotion decisions. Deloitte denies engaging in discriminatory conduct and states the settlement does not amount to an admission of liability. The company welcomed the resolution to avoid the cost and distraction of prolonged litigation. The DOJ's settlement also resolves claims filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group founded by affirmative action opponent Edward Blum, under the US False Claims Act. The group will receive $4.3 million as part of the settlement, with whistleblowers entitled to a share of any recovery.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON: Accounting firm Deloitte will pay US$21.5 million to settle a US Department of Justice probe over diversity, equity and inclusion practices, which President Donald Trump's administration has cracked down on during his second term in office.",
  "key_points": [
    "Deloitte to pay $21.5 million to settle DOJ investigation",
    "Settlement part of Civil Rights Fraud Initiative targeting DEI policies",
    "Deloitte denies discriminatory conduct, avoids prolonged litigation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}