IBM has agreed to pay $17 million to resolve allegations of illegal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. The DOJ had alleged that IBM made false claims about its hiring and employment practices in its federal contracts. The company denied these practices, stating it was focused on having the right people with the right skills. The settlement was not an admission of liability by IBM nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded. The Trump administration recently cracked down on DEI practices in both public and private sectors. The False Claims Act allows the government to recover funds up to three times the damages it incurred, in addition to penalties.