Key Points:
- The Education Department investigates George Mason University for alleged race-based hiring preferences under DEI initiatives.
- The Justice Department probes Minnesota’s state hiring practices for possible race and sex discrimination.
- The moves reflect the Trump administration’s broader effort to dismantle DEI policies nationwide.
Federal Investigations Target DEI Policies
The Trump administration has launched new federal probes into the hiring and diversity practices of Virginia’s George Mason University and the state of Minnesota, escalating its campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the country.
The U.S. Department of Education announced it is investigating George Mason University (GMU) over claims that its DEI practices violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded education programs.
The investigation follows a complaint from several GMU professors alleging the university favored candidates from “underrepresented groups” since 2020, creating what they described as a racially hostile environment.
“The Office for Civil Rights will investigate fully to ensure individuals are judged based on merit and accomplishment, not skin color,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department.
In Minnesota, the Department of Justice’s civil rights division has opened an inquiry into the state’s Department of Human Services, examining whether state hiring practices have engaged in discrimination based on race and sex.
The department emphasized that its procedures comply with all state and federal hiring laws and noted that justification for non-affirmative action hires has been required under state law since 1987.
Part of a Wider Crackdown on DEI
These probes reflect a broader push by President Donald Trump’s administration to challenge DEI initiatives across educational institutions and state governments. The administration has threatened funding cuts to universities and states over issues including DEI policies, climate initiatives, and campus protests.
Trump has signed executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity programs, arguing that such policies undermine merit-based hiring and are discriminatory against white people and men. His administration has also taken similar actions against other universities, including a recent investigation into the University of Virginia, which led to the resignation of its president.
At George Mason, the Education Department cited five key allegations, including the use of “Equity Advisors” to influence recruitment and a Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence established during President Gregory Washington’s tenure, the university’s first Black president. The complaint claimed that diversity was sometimes prioritized over credentials in hiring decisions.
In response, GMU stated it received notice of the investigation simultaneously with media reports and reaffirmed its commitment to comply with all federal and state mandates. “The university consistently reviews its policies to ensure compliance with federal laws and ongoing directives,” GMU said in a statement.
Civil rights advocates argue that DEI initiatives are essential for addressing historic inequities faced by women, ethnic minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community. However, the Trump administration has positioned its actions as a defense of merit-based systems against what it views as discriminatory policies.
As the investigations unfold, they will test the balance between fostering diversity in public institutions and adhering to federal anti-discrimination laws, shaping the future of DEI practices across the United States.