Whistleblowing Developments: Key Takeaways and a Look Ahead (Part 5)

In this episode of S&C’s Critical Insights, Annie Ostrager, Co-Head of S&C’s Employment Law Group, Litigation Partner Kamil Shields and Litigation Associate Sabrina Solow, underscore key takeaways from the whistleblowing series and discuss anticipated developments.

They discuss how companies may respond to the different federal government whistleblower programs, as well as the shift in priorities under the current administration, including investigating federal contractors.

A preview of the conversation can be found in the Q+A below.

Sabrina: What are trends you’re anticipating or areas you’re watching in the whistleblowing space?

Annie: One significant area of focus, where we are already seeing activity, including based on whistleblower tips, is investigations of federal contractors. Earlier this year, the administration announced its Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, the purpose of which is to “investigate and, as appropriate, pursue claims against any recipient of federal funds that knowingly violates federal civil rights laws.” The Initiative is intended to enforce policies announced in various recent Executive Orders aimed at certain forms of discrimination.

Kamil: We expect that universities could be a particular area of focus as a basis of a False Claims Act action and that action could be pursued on the ground that the university is violating the DEI policies that you just discussed in these Executive Orders. While we have not yet seen… a False Claims Act enforcement action brought against a university by the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, according to news reports, investigations by the DOJ have started based on this theory.