Compliance Stuff

According to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ)  January 16, 2026 press release , the DOJ reported a record $6.8 billion in settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act (FCA) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025—the largest annual total in the statute’s history, more than doubling last year’s $2.9 billion.  The tone and substance of the press release signal the Department’s ongoing enforcement priorities and inten t. Deputy AG Blanche described the FCA as “one of the government’s most powerful weapons against fraud,” and pledged its continued aggressive use. The press release reflects the DOJ’s key areas of enforcement interest, which are consistent with prior years’ focus areas:  Healthcare fraud dominated recoveries, with approximately $5.7 billion of the total $6.8 billion tied to healthcare-related matters including, but not limited to, managed care, prescription drugs, and medically unnecessary services. Cybersecurity. Pandemic-related programs. Tari...

Feds continue to focus on contractors’ DEI programs.  Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a  Memorandum  on May 19 advising recipients of federal funds that the federal government intends to vigorously enforce anti-discrimination laws by deploying a new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative . The purpose of this Initiative is to identify violators of civil rights laws and pursue claims under the False Claims Act. What is the False Claims Act? The False Claims Act generally provides that any person who knowingly submits false claims to the government can be liable for three times the government’s damages, plus a penalty tied to inflation . The FCA allows private citizens to sue on behalf of the government (called “ qui tam ” suits), and successful claimants typically receive a portion of the government’s recovery.  Q ui tam  suits most often involve fraudulent billing or misuse of government funds. The Justice Department recovered more than $2.9 billion unde...

  Executive Order (EO) 14173, “ Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity ,” creates new obligations that could carry significant risks for any organization doing business with the United States federal government. Federal contractors, subcontractors, and recipients of federal grant money are or will soon be subject to potential liability under the False Claims Act (FCA). Quick Hits EO 14173 is raising potential compliance concerns for organizations doing business with the federal government under the FCA, subject to civil and criminal penalties.  Organizations doing business with the federal government now have obligations to certify that they do not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws. These same organizations also must agree that their compliance with all federal nondiscrimination laws in any federal contract, subcontract, or grant recipient and makes that cert...