The Trump administration reportedly pressured the University of Virginia to remove its president, James E. Ryan, as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This information comes from sources who discussed the matter with the New York Times.
According to the sources, the Justice Department believes that Ryan hasn’t sufficiently dismantled these DEI programs, which the administration sees as problematic. Apparently, they feel he misrepresented the actions taken to eliminate them. Fox News Digital reached out for comments from the Justice Department, the university, and Ryan himself.
Interestingly, the federal government’s actions against higher education institutions include withdrawing significant funding from prestigious universities like Harvard. There are ongoing investigations by multiple federal agencies into various issues ranging from DEI programs to admissions standards, and even allegations of anti-Semitism.
This push to remove a university president seems to be a first for the administration. The New York Times pointed out that Deputy Civil Rights Attorney General Gregory Brown has discussed this issue with university officials multiple times recently, suggesting that Ryan’s removal is essential for advancing the investigation.
Brown, who graduated from the University of Virginia, indicated last week that for the inquiry to proceed, Ryan should step down.
Hermeet K. Dillon, the Chief Civil Rights Attorney at the Department of Justice and also a graduate of the university, has been part of the ongoing discussions with the university. Ryan, who has been president since 2018, has focused on enhancing diversity and attracting first-generation students, an approach that has drawn criticism from some conservative alumni and Republican board members. They argue that his initiatives lean too far into “woke” territory and impose his views on students.
Prior to becoming president, Ryan served as the dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, where he was recognized for his support of DEI efforts.
A conservative group has criticized Ryan for what it sees as inadequate compliance with the administration’s expectations. America First Legal, established by Trump advisor Stephen Miller, has accused the university of merely giving the DEI program a new label without making substantial changes. “Rebranding discrimination isn’t legal, and changing labels doesn’t change the essence,” stated Megan Redshaw, an attorney for the group, at that time.
Fox News Digital also reached out to the White House regarding the request for Ryan’s removal.
