As in recent years, the federal government continued to utilize the False Claims Act (FCA) as a tool against government contractors in 2023. The 543 FCA settlements and judgments resulted in the government collecting nearly $2.7 billion. Although procurement fraud was not as large of a focus as it has been in prior years, matters involving the government’s purchase of goods and services, including allegations related to the procurement process, failing to comply with contract requirements, and paying kickbacks have and will continue to be a significant concern for the government. Major players in the government contract industry faced FCA issues in 2023, including Booz Allen Hamilton, who paid a $377 million settlement to resolve allegations about improper billing in one of the largest procurement settlements ever. In addition, the government’s effort to root out COVID-19-related fraud has put a spotlight on government contractors that obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan. To keep you apprised of the current enforcement trends and the status of the law, Bradley’s Government Enforcement and Investigations Practice Group is pleased to present the False Claims Act: 2023 Year in Review, our 12th annual review of significant FCA cases, developments and trends.
