Justice department investigation in DEI: Virginia university chief quits; critics fear academic overreach

The president of the University of Virginia , James Ryan, is stepping down following pressure from the justice department, which had urged his resignation during an investigation into the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, according to a source familiar with the matter, reported news agency AP.

Ryan’s exit marks a major shift in the Trump administration’s campaign to reshape higher education, extending federal scrutiny beyond Ivy League schools to include public universities. It also signals a pivot in focus, from antisemitism to DEI policies, which the administration argues discriminate against white and asian american students.

Trump has pushed a hardline stance against what he calls “woke indoctrination,” signing a January executive order to dismantle DEI initiatives nationwide. The education department has since launched investigations into numerous colleges.

At UVA, conservative critics, including Trump-aligned group America First Legal, accused the university of renaming and repackaging DEI under new labels instead of eliminating it. In response, the university’s board voted in March to shut down its DEI office and end diversity policies in admissions, hiring, and financial aid, an action praised by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who declared “DEI is done at the University of Virginia.”

Ryan, who had previously signed a letter opposing what he called “political interference” in higher education, became a target for critics. America First Legal directly called for his removal, saying UVA’s response defied federal directives.

Ted Mitchell, head of the American council on education, condemned the move as federal overreach. “This is a dark day for the University of Virginia, a dark day for higher education,” he said.

Virginia’s Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine also denounced the administration’s pressure, calling it politically motivated and harmful to the state’s future.

Ryan, who led UVA since 2018 and previously served as a dean at Harvard, had been known for promoting faculty diversity. His resignation highlights growing tensions between universities and the federal government over the limits of political influence in public education.