The future of GMU: What to know 

George Mason University is now at the center of a national debate over the future of higher education. 

This is a debate about who governs our universities and colleges, who belongs here, whose speech counts and whose speech is silenced, and who and what we serve.

• In recent weeks, the Trump administration launched five investigatory actions against GMU.
• This Friday, August 1st, members of GMU’s Board of Visitors may take up a vote on replacing GMU’s leadership.
• This week, court rulings are expected regarding who has or has not been confirmed to serve on the Board.
• Thousands of faculty members, students, staff, alums, and community members have already voiced their views about the future of GMU.

With the materials below we provide information about how you can participate, as well as a collection of media coverage, opinions, and statements from different sectors of society about this fight over the future of GMU.

How to voice your views

• The GMU Board of Visitors (BOV) meet this Friday, August 1st, from 8:30am to 4pm. This meeting is open to the public and many people are expected to attend, particularly around lunchtime at midday (before the Board goes into closed session. The meeting takes places at Merten Hall on the GMU Fairfax campus. There is parking in the parking ramp immediately adjacent to Merten Hall, and public buses and shuttles also stop there. 
• Written comments will be accepted until the full board meeting adjourns on August 1, 2025. To submit a written public comment, please complete the form at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/p1yy7AmGxe 
• Write a letter to the editor - in particular the Washington Post, The  Richmond Times-Dispatch, and the Virginia Mercury, each of which have wide readerships in Virginia.

Media coverage and public statements

• 3/5 Turning Point USA - “George Mason University President Says DEI Is ‘Misunderstood’ Amid Office Renaming”
• 7/2 Washington Free Beacon - “Trump Admin Launches Anti-Semitism Probe Into George Mason University”
• 7/2 City Journal - “George Mason University’s Disastrous President” 
• 7/3 Statement of President Washington - “George Mason responds to the Department of Education's inquiry regarding anti-semitism”
• 7/9 Richmond Times-Dispatch - “Kaine, Warner: Virginia must resist Trump's attacks on higher ed – before it's too late”
• 7/10 The Washington Examiner - “Trump administration launches investigation into George Mason University over racial discrimination” 
• 7/10 Washington Post - "George Mason University is facing a second civil rights probe in two weeks by the Trump administration, this time over its DEI policy”
• 7/11 Statement of 81 Jewish faculty at GMU to Rector Stimson: Not in Our Name: We Stand with President Washington 
• 7/11 NAACP Virginia - “Virginia NAACP Statement on George Mason University Investigation“ 
• 7/11 The Chronicle of Higher Education and ProPublica - “George Mason Is the Latest University Under Fire From Trump. Its President Fears an “Orchestrated” Campaign” 
• 7/16 Statement of GMU President Washington - “Update on University response to investigations” 
• 7/16 Virginia Mercury - “Students, faculty, and lawmakers rally behind GMU amid Trump administration civil rights probe”
• 7/16 Washington Post - “Why attack colleges? To open students’ minds or blow up institutions? George Mason University makes no sense as a target for the Trump administration”
• 7/17 Washington Post - “Trump administration expands scrutiny of George Mason University”
• 7/18 FFX Now - “Trump administration increases pressure on GMU with third investigation”
• 7/18 The Chronicle of Higher Education - “George Mason President Discriminated Against White People After George Floyd Protests, Justice Dept. Says” 
• 7/18 Statement of GMU President Washington - “Background on new investigation from Department of Justice” 
• 7/19 NYT The Daily - “Project 2025’s Other Project”
• 7/20 The New York Times - “The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement”
• 7/21 The New York Times - "In Virginia, the Attack on University Presidents Widens"
• 7/22 The Chronicle of Higher Education - “The Plot to Oust the President of George Mason University”
• 7/23 Virginia Mercury - “George Mason professors say governing board failed to defend president, university”
• 7/23 Washington Post - “Trump administration widens probes into Virginia’s largest public university”
• 7/23 GMU Faculty Senate - “Resolution of the George Mason University Faculty Senate Affirming President Washington’s Leadership in Advancing Mason’s Core Values” 
• 7/23 Higher Ed Deep Dive - “‘Inadequate and deeply troubling’: George Mason AAUP votes no confidence in board” 
• 7/23 Richmond Times-Dispatch - “George Mason facing new investigation into alleged discrimination”
• 7/23 Northern Virginia Technology Council - “Northern Virginia Technology Council Calls on Business Organizations to Support George Mason University and President Dr. Gregory Washington” 
• 7/24 The Chronicle of Higher Education - “George Mason U. Faculty Rally Around Their Besieged President”
• 7/24 NPR - “Trump administration scrutiny of academic institutions stretches beyond elite colleges”
• 7/24 Biz Journals - “Northern Virginia business groups voice support for George Mason University president”
• 7/25 Richmond Times-Dispatch - “Wilder, Democrats rally to defend state colleges from Trump attacks”
• 7/25 Richmond Times-Dispatch - “Battle over university boards rages in Fairfax courtroom”
• 7/25 Virginia Mercury - “Democrats, Wilder defend Va.’s top-ranked higher education system amid Trump investigations”
• 7/26 Bacon's Rebellion - "A Project 2025 Revolution at GMU?"
• 7/28 The New York Times - "Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation"
• 7/29 The Virginian-Pilot - "Unscrupulous attacks on Virginia universities must cease"
• 7/29 Virginia Business - "Congressional committee demands GMU president testify"
• 7/29 TechDirt - "When Supporting Your Boss Becomes a Federal Crime: Trump DOJ Investigates Faculty for Backing Their President"
• 7/29 Washington Post - "DOJ to review staff texts, emails after faculty praise of GMU president"
• 7/29 InsideHigherEd - "Judge Removes Youngkin’s University Board Picks"
• 7/29 Washington Informer - "Trump Attacks Diversity, Excellence and Black Leadership at George Mason University"
• 7/29 AAUP - "DOJ Investigation at George Mason Is an Attack on Academic Freedom"

If you know of other relevant media coverage or statements, let us know at nss@gmu.edu

July 29, 2025