Trump Administration Initiates Investigation into DEI Policies at George Mason University

Investigation into George Mason University Practices

Statue of George Mason on campus of George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Robert Knopes | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

The Department of Education announced Thursday that it has initiated an investigation into George Mason University’s hiring and promotion practices, marking the second federal inquiry into the Fairfax, Virginia institution in just a month.

The department’s Office for Civil Rights is examining a complaint submitted by GMU professors who assert that the university’s personnel decisions disproportionately favor certain racial groups. According to a statement from the department, the behavior in question “creates a racially hostile environment” and could potentially violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If the investigation finds that the university violated the civil rights of faculty members, GMU could face the risk of losing its federal funding.

George Mason is the second significant public institution in Virginia to come under scrutiny recently. Jim Ryan, the long-serving president of the University of Virginia, stepped down in June following a federal investigation into UVA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, during which the Justice Department called for his resignation.

According to the complaint against George Mason, several professors allege that the university began offering “preferential treatment” to individuals from “underrepresented groups” starting in 2020, the same year that Gregory Washington commenced his role as GMU’s first Black president.

“The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is committed to thoroughly investigating this matter to ensure individuals are evaluated based on their merit and achievements, rather than their skin color,” stated Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the department.

The Department of Education outlined five primary allegations raised in the complaint, which include the claim that GMU has “Equity Advisors” dedicated to equity in recruitment and operates a Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence. The complaint also asserts that Washington advised faculty that a candidate who met certain criteria could be hired based on their “diversity,” even if they did not have superior credentials compared to other candidates.

George Mason stated it only became aware of the investigation on Thursday, coinciding with reports from news organizations. “George Mason University reiterates its dedication to adhering to all federal and state mandates,” the institution expressed in a statement. “The university continually reviews its policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal laws and ongoing agency directives.”

In March, following a directive from the President to comply with federal DEI policies, Washington announced the renaming of the DEI office to the “Office of Access, Compliance, and Community.” “I am glad to report that, after an initial review of our policies and practices, George Mason complies with all federal mandates,” Washington noted at that time, emphasizing that the review revealed “no evidence” of discriminatory practices.

Thursday’s investigation represents the second such inquiry for GMU this month, having been informed last week by the OCR that it was under investigation for allegedly failing to “respond effectively to a pervasively hostile environment” for its Jewish community members. This inquiry follows similar investigations launched at Harvard University and Columbia University amid growing scrutiny of institutions of higher education.

While some targeted schools, such as the University of California, Berkeley, have long histories of promoting progressive ideas and cultivating an inclusive campus, George Mason does not share this legacy. In 2016, the university’s law school was named after the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia following substantial donations from politically conservative benefactors. Additionally, it has received significant financial support from foundations linked to Charles H. Koch, a billionaire known for his funding of conservative think tanks and libertarian initiatives.