University of Virginia president resigns under Trump administration pressure on DEI, AP source says

Scripps News ^ | 3:10 PM, Jun 27, 2025 | AP via Scripps News Group

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The departure of James Ryan, who had led the school since 2018, represents a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to reshape higher education.

The president of the University of Virginia is resigning his position under pressure from the Justice Department, which had pushed for his departure amid scrutiny of the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.

The departure of James Ryan, who had led the school since 2018, represents a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to reshape higher education. Doing it at a public university marks a new frontier in a campaign that has almost exclusively targeted Ivy League schools. It also widens the rationale behind the government’s aggressive tactics, focusing on DEI rather than alleged tolerance of antisemitism.

Ryan had faced conservative criticism that he failed to heed federal orders to eliminate DEI policies, and his removal was pushed by the Justice Department as a way to help resolve a department inquiry targeting the school, according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss the move by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

The New York Times first reported on the resignation and the Justice Department’s insistence on it. The Justice Department declined to comment Friday.

Ryan’s removal is another example of the Trump administration using “thuggery instead of rational discourse,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents university presidents.

“This is a dark day for the University of Virginia, a dark day for higher education, and it promises more of the same,” Mitchell said. “It’s clear the administration is not done and will use every tool that it can make or invent to exert its will over higher education.”

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TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: academia; dei; education; uva; virginia

[E. Pluribus Unum]

“This is a dark day for the University of Virginia, a dark day for higher education, and it promises more of the same,” Mitchell said.

[Comment Deleted]

[MinorityRepublican]

Youngkin probably told him to GTFO.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Ryan’s removal is another example of the Trump administration using “thuggery instead of rational discourse,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents university presidents.”

If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it is an elitist liberal who lost the game he invented. There is no “rational discourse” from liberals, especially when you say the President is using thuggery.

I can’t stop loving winning.

[Ditto]

Ryan’s removal is another example of the Trump administration using “thuggery instead of rational discourse,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents university presidents.

Well we know who the enemy is… they just identified themselves.

[StAnDeliver]

"Ryan’s removal is another example of the Trump administration using “thuggery instead of rational discourse,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents university presidents."

Shut your pie hole, you white-haired pie-eyed pencil neck.

The people who drive your Uber Black, the pilots who fly you to useless edumakashun confabs, the guy who refilled your water at Chez Grifterz, they all voted for Trump 3x. Watch. Your. Step.

[Red6]

What’s good for the 🪿...

What I really hope is that there is an awakening that government should not stick their nose in a church, family, do the states business, that some functions are best left to private enterprise.

But until the left understands that concept, hit them back full force. Fight, fight, fight!!!

[Veto!]

Bye-Bye. Don’t let the door hit you on your wsy out.
I have more important things to do right now. Feeding cats.

[Beowulf9]

Somebody on X pointed out this is the same paper that back in January their cartoonist, Darrin Bell, was arrested for child porn as well.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/01/17/darrin-bell-arrested-child-pornography-cartoonist/77771785007/

[Albion Wilde]

Good riddance. Now do UPenn!

[Lurker]

“It’s clear the administration is not done and will use every tool that it can make or invent to exert its will over higher education.”

I voted for that.

L

[Governor Dinwiddie]

He's going to have to hire some day labor to move his child pornography collection.