RICHMOND 鈥 The U.S. Department of Education is investigating for possible racial discrimination, the latest move by President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration to eradicate DEI from American colleges and punish colleges that don鈥檛 comply.
A group of professors at the university in Fairfax County filed a report asserting that university leadership illegally uses race as a factor in hiring and promotions. The complaint alleges that the school鈥檚 president, Gregory Washington, instructed administrators to consider how an applicant would improve the school鈥檚 diversity, 鈥渆ven if that candidate may not have better credentials than the other candidate.鈥
Craig Trainor, the education department鈥檚 acting assistant secretary for civil rights, alleged in a statement Thursday that Mason鈥檚 hiring practices appear to 鈥渃hampion illegal racial preferencing,鈥 violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
People are also reading…
The education department also revealed that it had already opened an investigation into George Mason for a claim that the school created a hostile environment for Jewish students since the onset of the war in Gaza.
The department announced the latest investigation Thursday, one day before University of Virginia President Jim Ryan will leave his position. Ryan came under pressure from federal authorities for similar accusations, as leaders in the Department of Justice claimed he too slowly removed diversity, equity and inclusion programs from the school.
The Trump administration鈥檚 actions drew condemnation from Democrats. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both from Virginia, called the accusations against Mason 鈥渧ague and politically charged鈥 Thursday in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Stephanie Aaronson, a spokesperson for Mason, said the university does not discriminate on the basis of race or any other protected status. The university received the Department of Education鈥檚 letter Thursday morning, just as the letter became public. Mason is committed to following the law, Aaronson said, and will respond to the education department.
Earlier this year, state and federal authorities directed colleges in Virginia to eradicate DEI programs and positions. In March, according to the complaint, GMU鈥檚 president announced in a university-wide email that Mason鈥檚 DEI office would become the 鈥淥ffice of Access, Compliance, and Community,鈥 according to the education department. The GMU president said Mason did not need to change its hiring or promotion policies because they already complied with existing civil rights laws.
The professors who filed the complaint with the Department of Education say the school鈥檚 discriminatory behavior dates back to 2020 and was implemented under the guise of DEI. They claim the university gives preferential treatment to faculty from 鈥渦nderrepresented groups鈥 to advance 鈥渁nti-racism.鈥
The state鈥檚 largest public university, George Mason has grown significantly in the past decade to 40,000 students last year. It is among the state鈥檚 most diverse schools, and it is a popular destination for students who begin their education in community college.
Mason also investigated for antisemitism
This is the second investigation the education department has opened in two weeks. Last week, it opened a probe into claims that GMU failed to respond to a hostile environment for Jewish students and faculty since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023.
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said Washington, the school鈥檚 president, is being maligned for promoting antisemitism 鈥渨ithout a scintilla of evidence.鈥 Wilder, the nation鈥檚 first elected Black governor, compared Washington鈥檚 situation to Cedric Wins, who was the Virginia Military Institute鈥檚 first Black superintendent, until the university鈥檚 board voted Feb. 28 not to renew his contract.
Washington 鈥渋s not the only person of color heading our colleges and universities being subjected to specious and questionable charges,鈥 Wilder said.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., added that George Mason has received compliments from its Hillel chapter and a Jewish organization in Washington, making it 鈥渉ard to believe鈥 the university created a hostile environment for Jewish students. 鈥淭hat challenge seems spurious,鈥 he said.
House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, is not happy with either the education department or Gov. Glenn Youngkin over the new investigation at George Mason.
鈥淚f they are saying that Mason is not in compliance with DEI, I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 the case at all,鈥 said Torian, who also faulted Youngkin for not defending George Mason and other Virginia public institutions.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, accused Youngkin of 鈥渃oordinating with the Trump administration to try to interfere with George Mason, UVa and other Virginia higher education crown jewels.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just another example of Youngkin not standing up to Donald Trump for our commonwealth,鈥 Surovell said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 disappointing, disturbing and I think he cares more about his presidential ambitions than he does the commonwealth.鈥
A Senate committee voted last month to block eight candidates that Youngkin had appointed to university governing boards, but Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares insist that the new members will take their seats until the General Assembly convenes in January.
A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge has scheduled a hearing for July 25 on a request by Senate Democrats to prevent Youngkin鈥檚 nominees at George Mason, UVa and VMI from assuming their roles.
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-11th, served on the GMU board for eight years, six as rector, the position he held when George Mason hired Washington as president.
Davis said Thursday in a telephone interview that he does not know what the investigation is about, 鈥渂ut I don鈥檛 think you鈥檙e going to find anything.鈥
Davis said Republicans are 鈥減laying with fire鈥 as the Democrat-controlled legislature refuses to confirm the governor鈥檚 appointments to GMU鈥檚 board of visitors.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not pretty,鈥 he said. 鈥淗ow many universities are under investigation right now? It鈥檚 not one or two, it鈥檚 not a one-off.鈥
Davis urged Republicans and Democrats to work on a solution 鈥渇or the good of the university.鈥
GMU the 2nd school to come under scrutiny
The elimination of DEI programs has across Virginia colleges. At Virginia Commonwealth University, its board of visitors voted to eliminate the Office of Inclusive Excellence, reassign staffers whose jobs focus primarily with DEI and hire a consultant to check the school鈥檚 work.
At UVa, its board also voted to strike the DEI office. But what came next is not clear. Federal officials accused UVa of slow-walking change, and a spokesperson for the university did not respond to a question about those accusations.
Republicans and Democrats disagree on the value of DEI programs. School leaders often say those offices and programs aim to make everyone feel welcome and ensure hiring managers cast a wide net. Republicans have argued that promoting equity amounts to illegal racial discrimination.
