The University of Virginia has reached an agreement with the Trump administration to pause federal investigations into its admissions and hiring practices. The school will now follow federal anti-discrimination rules outlined by the Justice Department.
Federal officials began investigating the university in April, accusing it of maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that President Donald Trump called discriminatory.
Leadership Shake-Up
Amid rising pressure, University President James Ryan resigned in June. He said he would not “fight the federal government to save my job.” His resignation marked a turning point in the months-long dispute.
On Wednesday, interim president Paul Mahoney announced that the university had reached a settlement with the Department of Justice. In a campus email, he said the agreement protects academic freedom and prevents financial penalties.
Terms of the Settlement
Under the deal, the University of Virginia will not pay any fines. Instead, it must submit quarterly reports proving compliance with federal rules. The university president will personally certify these updates.
The Justice Department agreed not to monitor the campus directly but will maintain regular contact with school officials. If the university meets all conditions, the department will end its investigation. Failure to comply could cost the school federal funding.
Mahoney said the agreement allows the university to “preserve its independence while fully adhering to federal law.”
A Lighter Deal Than Others
Virginia’s settlement is shorter and less restrictive than similar agreements reached by Columbia University and Brown University. Columbia paid $200 million, while Brown paid $50 million to settle their cases.
Virginia’s deal spans just four pages, compared with Columbia’s 22 and Brown’s nine. It also includes a clear statement affirming that the federal government “does not aim to dictate the content of academic speech or curricula.”
Mahoney said the university will uphold the law while reinforcing “free expression, ideological diversity, and the pursuit of truth,” quoting founder Thomas Jefferson.
National Crackdown on DEI
The Trump administration has expanded its campaign against DEI programs, arguing they violate equal protection laws. Earlier efforts focused on elite private universities like Harvard and Columbia, but now include public institutions such as UCLA and George Mason University.
The Charlottesville campus drew federal attention this year after critics accused it of rebranding its DEI offices instead of closing them. Investigators said Ryan had been slow to enforce a March 7 resolution by the university’s board that ordered an end to DEI initiatives.
Conservative Pressure Groups
The conservative group America First Legal, founded by Stephen Miller, urged the Justice Department to act. In a May letter, it claimed the university had “renamed, repackaged, and redeployed” DEI under new titles.
At George Mason University, a similar dispute unfolded. Despite federal criticism, the school’s board gave President Gregory Washington a pay raise and adopted a “merit-based” hiring policy that bans DEI considerations.
Other Investigations Continue
The agreement with the Justice Department does not end all federal scrutiny of the University of Virginia. The Education Department included the school in a March list of 60 universities under review for alleged antisemitism.
A department spokesperson said the Office for Civil Rights remains furloughed during the federal shutdown and cannot confirm the investigation’s status. The Justice Department agreement does not close any Education Department probes.
Federal Reaction
Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the deal, saying it reflects “a renewed commitment to merit in higher education.”
“The Trump administration is not backing down in our efforts to root out DEI and illegal race preferencing on campus,” she said on X.
Next Steps for the University
The University of Virginia will now focus on proving compliance. Mahoney said the school will defend free inquiry while meeting all legal obligations.
The first quarterly compliance report is due in three months. If approved, the Justice Department could formally close its investigation — marking a major test case for how public universities adapt to new federal oversight of campus policies.
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