Education Department announces investigation against George Mason over DEI

The Education Department announced on Thursday a civil rights investigation against George Mason University over allegations of discrimination regarding its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. 

The federal agency said multiple professors at the university alleged leadership is giving preferential treatment to underrepresented minority groups for hiring and promotion considerations among faculty.  

“Despite the leadership of George Mason University claiming that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, it appears that its hiring and promotion policies and practices from 2020 to the present, implemented under the guise of so-called ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,’ not only allow but champion illegal racial preferencing in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This kind of pernicious and wide-spread discrimination—packaged as ‘anti-racism’—was allowed to flourish under the Biden Administration, but it will not be tolerated by this one,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department.  

“The Trump-McMahon Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights will investigate this matter fully to ensure that individuals are judged based on their merit and accomplishment, not the color of their skin. That the leadership of a university named in honor of the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights—which informed the Constitution’s Bill of Rights—needs a refresher on the primacy of treating individuals equally under law is deeply disheartening,” Trainor added. 

Other practices by George Mason that were reported to the Education Department include employing equity advisers in academic departments and the creation of a task force on anti-racism and inclusive excellence.

“As always, we will work in good faith to give a full and prompt response. George Mason University again affirms its commitment to comply with all federal and state mandates. The university consistently reviews its policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal laws, updated executive orders, and on-going agency directives,” a spokesperson for the university said. 

It is the second Title VI investigation opened against George Mason; the first was announced last week and will look into allegations the university failed to protect Jewish students from a hostile environment.  

George Mason has joined dozens of other universities on the Trump administration’s radar for alleged DEI practices and antisemitism on campus.  

Updated at 2:32 p.m. EDT