GMU Faces Anti-DEI Probe

Introduction to the Investigation

The Trump administration has opened a civil rights investigation into the hiring practices at George Mason University, expanding its national campaign against diversity policies to Virginia’s largest public university. This move is part of a broader effort to reshape higher education, focusing on institutions that the administration believes are prioritizing diversity over merit.

Background on the Complaint

The Education Department is responding to a complaint from multiple professors at George Mason who accuse the university of favoring candidates from underrepresented groups. The complaint specifically targets the university’s president, Gregory Washington, alleging that he issued guidance that favors faculty candidates based on diversity considerations rather than their credentials.

The Trump Administration’s Campaign

This investigation marks an expansion of the Trump administration’s campaign to reshape higher education. Until recently, the focus was on elite private institutions like Harvard and Columbia universities. However, with the investigation into George Mason and the recent Justice Department investigation at the University of Virginia, it’s clear that public universities are now also under scrutiny.

Response from George Mason University

A statement from George Mason denied any allegations of discrimination and affirmed the university’s commitment to comply with all federal and state mandates. The university had previously renamed its DEI office in March in response to federal orders but concluded that its policies were already in line with federal law.

Details of the Complaint

The complaint to the Education Department alleged that George Mason did nothing to change campus hiring and promotion policies that favored those from minority groups. It highlighted the university’s policy of including an "equity adviser" in every academic department to help recruit faculty and the creation of an "anti-racism" task force that worked on "diversity cluster hire initiatives." Furthermore, the complaint accused President Washington of issuing guidance that allowed faculty and staff to be hired based partially on their diversity, even if they did not have better credentials than other candidates.

Reaction from the Education Department

Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, stated that it appears George Mason’s hiring and promotion policies "not only allow but champion illegal racial preferencing." This stance reflects the Trump administration’s broader view that diversity preferences amount to illegal discrimination against white and Asian American people.

George Mason’s Reputation and Previous Criticism

George Mason has built a reputation as a conservative powerhouse, particularly in law and economics. However, it has also faced criticism from conservative groups over its DEI initiatives. A 2023 report by the Heritage Foundation found that George Mason was "bloated" with high numbers of DEI officials and had "radical content" on its websites. President Washington disputed the report and its methodology.

Broader Implications

The investigation into George Mason University and the recent scrutiny of the University of Virginia reflect a broader trend of conservative criticism against DEI initiatives in higher education. Groups like America First Legal, founded by Trump aide Stephen Miller, have been at the forefront of this criticism, pushing for an end to what they see as discriminatory practices in university hiring and admissions.

Conclusion

The investigation into George Mason University’s hiring practices is a significant development in the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity policies in higher education. As the situation unfolds, it will be important to watch how the university responds to the allegations and how the Education Department’s investigation proceeds. The outcome could have significant implications for diversity initiatives at universities across the country.

FAQs

• Q: What is the basis of the investigation into George Mason University?
  • A: The investigation is based on a complaint from multiple professors alleging that the university’s hiring practices favor candidates from underrepresented groups over those with better credentials.
• Q: How has George Mason University responded to the allegations?
  • A: The university has denied any allegations of discrimination and affirmed its commitment to comply with all federal and state mandates.
• Q: What are the implications of this investigation for higher education?
  • A: The investigation reflects a broader trend of scrutiny against diversity initiatives in higher education and could have significant implications for how universities approach hiring and diversity policies.
• Q: What is the Trump administration’s stance on diversity policies in higher education?
  • A: The Trump administration believes that diversity preferences can amount to illegal discrimination against certain groups and has used civil rights law to fight against these policies.
• Q: How does this investigation fit into the broader context of the Trump administration’s education policies?
  • A: The investigation is part of a campaign to reshape higher education, focusing on institutions that the administration believes are prioritizing diversity over merit, and marks an expansion of scrutiny to public universities.
    

    By COLLIN BINKLEY

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday opened a civil rights investigation into the hiring practices at George Mason University, expanding a national campaign against diversity policies to Virginia’s largest public university.

The Education Department said it is responding to a complaint from multiple professors at George Mason who accuse the university of favoring those from underrepresented groups. The complaint takes aim at the university’s president, Gregory Washington, saying he issued guidance that favors faculty candidates based on diversity considerations rather than their credentials, according to the department.

It marks an expansion of the Trump administration’s campaign to reshape higher education, which until recently focused on elite private institutions like Harvard and Columbia universities. George Mason is the second big public university to face scrutiny in recent weeks, following a Justice Department investigation at the University of Virginia that prompted the school’s president, James Ryan, to resign.

A statement from George Mason denied any allegations of discrimination and said the university “affirms its commitment to comply with all federal and state mandates.”

The Trump administration has used civil rights law to fight DEI, saying diversity preferences amount to illegal discrimination against white and Asian American people. On his second day in office, Trump signed an action demanding an end to DEI at all universities that receive federal money.

George Mason responded to federal orders by renaming its DEI office in March, but it concluded that its policies were already in line with federal law.

The complaint to the Education Department said the school did nothing to change campus hiring and promotion policies that favored those from minority groups, the department said. The complaint said George Mason had a policy to include an “equity adviser” in every academic department to help recruit faculty. The university also created an “anti-racism” task force whose work included “diversity cluster hire initiatives,” according to the agency.

It also accuses Washington of issuing guidance allowing faculty and staff to be hired based partially on their diversity “even if that candidate may not have better credentials than the other candidate.”

Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, said “it appears” that George Mason’s hiring and promotion policies “not only allow but champion illegal racial preferencing.”

George Mason has built a reputation as a conservative powerhouse, especially in law and economics. But it has also been the subject of conservative criticism over its DEI initiatives. A 2023 report by the Heritage Foundation found that George Mason was “bloated” with high numbers of DEI officials and had “radical content” on its websites. Washington disputed the report and its methodology.

The University of Virginia was also called out in the report, and its president more recently faced criticism from conservative groups that said he was too slow to end DEI initiatives on the Charlottesville campus. Among those leveling complaints were America First Legal, a conservative group founded by Trump aide Stephen Miller.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

        <p>Originally Published: July 10, 2025 at 5:28 PM EDT</p>