The Education Department announced Friday that it found George Mason University in violation of Title VI due to “unlawful DEI policies.”
The department said George Mason University used race and other immutable characteristics in hiring and promotion practices at the institution.
“In 2020, University President Gregory Washington called for expunging the so-called ‘racist vestiges’ from GMU’s campus. Without a hint of self awareness, President Washington then waged a university-wide campaign to implement unlawful DEI policies that intentionally discriminate on the basis of race. You can’t make this up,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.
“Despite this unfortunate chapter in Mason’s history, the University now has the opportunity to come into compliance with federal civil rights laws by entering into a Resolution Agreement with the Office for Civil Rights. In the last seven months, this much is clear: The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will not allow racially exclusionary practices—which violate the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Protection Clause, and Supreme Court precedent—to continue corrupting our nation’s educational institutions,” he added.
The department has proposed six conditions to resolve the violation that it said George Mason must decide to agree to within the next 10 days.
The federal agency wants the president of George Mason to release a statement to the campus community ensuring hiring and promotions will comply with Title VI, a personal apology for the violation and ensure it is displayed prominently on the university’s website.
George Mason would also have to agree to revise its policies and documents for hiring, conduct annual training that emphasizes GMU will not give preferences based on race and make records available upon request to the government to prove the university is complying with the agreement.
If the university does not agree to the resolution, it is likely the Trump administration will move to pull federal funding from the institution.
The administration has already pulled billions of dollars, collectively, from multiple universities such as Harvard and the University of California, Los Angeles, demanding big payouts and access to admissions data to release the funds.
The Hill has reached out to George Mason for comment.
