U of Virginia president falls on his sword over Trump admin DEI probe

Aims at preserving DEI against the will of the public and the president ended with a university head resigning instead of furthering his “quixotic” fight.

Upon returning to the White House, President Donald Trump had taken a number of steps to combat the divisive Marxist agenda perpetuated under the banner of diversity, equity and inclusion. Following an investigation into the University of Virginia over alleged rebranding to skirt federal policy, university president Jim Ryan announced his resignation Friday while seemingly playing hero and victim at once.

“I am writing, with a very heavy heart, to let you know that I have submitted my resignation as President of the University of Virginia,” began a statement posted to social media.

“To make a long story short, I am inclined to fight for what I believe in, and I believe deeply in this University. But I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job,” he expressed. “To do so would not only be quixotic but appear selfish and self-centered to the hundreds of employees who would lose their jobs, the researchers who would lose their funding, and the hundreds of students who could lose financial aid or have their visas withheld.”

pic.twitter.com/038ISgPP3Z

— Jim Ryan (@presjimryan) June 27, 2025

BREAKING: James Ryan, president of the University of Virginia (@UVA), has reportedly RESIGNED following pressure from the DOJ, which believed that Ryan failed to dismantle its DEI programs and initiatives. pic.twitter.com/PWwDsvjnkU

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 27, 2025

Ryan had reminded that next year would have been his last before asserting, “This was an excruciatingly difficult decision, and I am heartbroken to be leaving this way.”

As the federal government investigated the compliance of the school that reportedly took in $1.3 billion worth of taxpayer dollars for the most recent year, UVA spokesperson Brian Coy told CBS News, “UVA is committed to complying with all federal laws and has been cooperating with the Department of Justice in the ongoing inquiries.”

“The federal government’s support of the University is essential to continue the core mission of research, education and, clinical care,” he added as the outlet also reported that a source had claimed lawmakers had urged Ryan to remain in his position at least until after the fall gubernatorial election.

Their reasoning planned for Democratic Party candidate and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger to defeat Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R), and that the president’s order could be challenged by the executive and conservative appointees to the school’s board could be dismissed.

Addressing the situation at UVA Friday, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon joined CNN’s “The Lead” and was asked by host Jake Tapper if she thinks “diversity is good.”

Separating her own opinion from the work of the Justice Department, Dhillon asserted that what was relevant was the laws passed by Congress.

“The Dixiecrats had a similar view to what we’re seeing on college campuses today by administrators and leaders like Jim Ryan, which is: ‘I don’t care what the federal law is; we’re not going to comply with it.’ And the federal government got pretty aggressive in going in and saying, ‘No, sorry–after Brown v. Board of Education, you have to allow equal opportunity for all people in the United States,’” she said before reminding that attempts to utilize quotas had been deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.

(Video Credit: CNN)

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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