DOT pays consultants millions $62.5 million spent on work related to 18-year-old discrimination suit The state Department of Transportation has paid consultants $62.5 million to perform administrative work connected with an 18-year-old racial discrimination lawsuit against the agency. The highest-paid consultants were allowed to hire extra staff, raise staff pay and hire their own consultants. Although their contracts went through the legislative review process, none that was billed directly to the state was subject to bids.