President Gregory Washington is refusing to step aside despite mounting pressure from the Trump administration and conservative critics who have launched multiple civil rights investigations into the university.
Washington, the first Black president of GMU, has been the target of intensified scrutiny as the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice initiate probes into the university's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, hiring, admissions, antisemitism response, and scholarship practices.
Faculty and university members have rallied behind Washington amid the controversy. The GMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors passed a vote of no confidence in the school's Board of Visitors, accusing the board of failing to defend Washington in what they called "a politically motivated pressure campaign." "The board's failure to defend President Washington ... was the final straw," said GMU-AAUP President Bethany Letiecq.
Faculty concerns also extend to internal university governance. Tim Gibson, vice president of GMU-AAUP, warned that the situation "could pressure [Washington] to resign to aid in the resolution of the investigations."
Meanwhile, Washington insists his DEI efforts comply with civil rights law and represent the university's broader mission. As one faculty member put it, "We're understanding this to be a coordinated attack on our university and President Washington"
© 2025 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
