Trump Admin Finds University’s DEI Policies Violate Civil Rights Act

The U.S. Department of Education found that George Mason University violated civil rights laws in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion policies—potentially calling into question the future of the school’s already embattled president. 

The department accused Virginia’s largest public university of violating Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by illegally using race and other characteristics in hiring and promotion policies.  Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal funding. A violation could result in losing federal funds.

“In 2020, University President Gregory Washington called for expunging the so-called ‘racist vestiges’ from GMU’s campus,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a public statement on Friday. “Without a hint of self awareness, President Washington then waged a university-wide campaign to implement unlawful DEI policies that intentionally discriminate on the basis of race. You can’t make this up.”

“Despite this unfortunate chapter in Mason’s history, the university now has the opportunity to come into compliance with federal civil rights laws by entering into a resolution agreement with the Office for Civil Rights,” Trainor continued. 

A GMU spokesperson referred The Daily Signal to a statement from the GMU Board of Visitors. 

“Today, the Board of Visitors received notification from the United States Department of Education that the university has been in violation of federal civil rights law. This is a serious matter,” the board statement says. 

“The board is reviewing the specific resolution steps proposed by the Department of Education,” the statement continued. “We will continue to respond fully and cooperatively to all inquiries from the Department of Education, the Department of Justice and the U.S. House of Representatives and evaluate the evidence that comes to light. Our sole focus is our fiduciary duty to serve the best interests of the university and the people of the commonwealth of Virginia.”

Earlier this month, the GMU board held a closed-door performance review of Washington amid speculation he would be fired. The board instead voted to keep him and give him a 1.5% pay increase. The review came after faculty complaints and the investigations from both the Education and Justice Departments. 

In July, the Education Department opened the investigation in response to multiple GMU professors alleging the school’s leadership adopted unlawful DEI policies in 2020 to give preferential treatment to “underrepresented groups” to advance “anti-racism.” One university administrator accused Washington of creating an atmosphere of surveillance regarding DEI, according to the Education Department.  

Washington, the first black GMU president, made his case to the board at the Aug. 1 meeting before it went into closed session for the review. He pointed to increased fundraising and a strong university. 

“Despite the commentary you’re hearing, this institution is doing extremely well,” Washington told the board.

It’s unfortunate what has happened to the university, said Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation. 

“It’s sad that the administration had to call out George Mason University, which is Virginia’s largest university,” Gonzalez told The Daily Signal. “It’s unfortunate the university’s leadership was promoting woke ideas in contravention of law and in contravention of what voters at both the federal and Virginia levels rejected.” 

When the university board met on Aug. 1 to decide Washington’s future, protesters gathered outside for a “day of action,” to support Washington. It included faculty who supported Washington and who accused the Trump administration of politicizing its investigations of the school. 

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