FBI Analyst Files Suit Alleging Gender Bias

An FBI analyst who failed a fitness test by one pushup claims in a federal lawsuit that the test is biased against men.

Jay Bauer’s lawsuit says he met other requirements to become a special agent. But Bauer could perform only 29 out of 30 untimed pushups. The lawsuit says that meant he was forced to resign from special agent training.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Bauer’s lawsuit was filed last week in Chicago.

An FBI spokeswoman told the newspaper that the agency doesn’t usually comment on pending litigation.

Bauer, a Mount Prospect resident, has disputed the FBI decision through the administrative courts.

His attorneys say a female trainee who scored poorly in firearms proficiency was given another shot at the fitness test, but Bauer wasn’t.