Contractor Subject to ITAR, EAR Settles Discrimination Claim With DOJ

Aerojet Rocketdyne, a rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer, settled a claim with the Department of Justice over whether the company did not allow a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. to apply for a position due to his immigration status. Aerojet violated the Immigration and Nationality Act's anti-discrimination provision when the company considered only U.S. citizens for 12 mechanic roles in Jupiter, Florida, without proper justification, DOJ said in a May 17 news release. Aerojet manufactures and sells advanced propulsion and energetics systems that are subject to federal regulations such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations for its contracting work with the U.S. government and foreign companies.

DOJ said Aerojet mistakenly believed that ITAR held a U.S. citizenship requirement for government contracts or otherwise restricts hiring based on citizenship status. “When it learned of the investigation, Aerojet Rocketdyne was forthcoming and quickly changed its practices to avoid future discrimination,” DOJ said. Under the settlement, Aerojet will pay a $37,008 civil penalty, alter its employment policies relating to nondiscrimination in hiring, and send its human resources personnel to training on nondiscrimination laws.