Trump Scores Higher Education Victory Over DEI Efforts, Virginia’s Jim Ryan Resigns

Jim Ryan, the president of the University of Virginia, has resigned amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration over the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The Context

Ryan’s departure is the latest development in the Trump administration’s ongoing battle with universities across the country, particularly Ivy League institutions such as Harvard University and Columbia University.

Among other things, the administration has threatened to withhold or cut off federal funding for schools that resist President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle DEI policies, as well as schools the administration believes aren’t doing enough to crack down on pro-Palestinian campus protests.

Harvard, with its $53 billion endowment, is uniquely positioned to weather the government’s financial pressure. However, public universities are more reliant on taxpayer funding and may be more susceptible to pressure from the executive branch.

UVA’s $10 billion endowment is among the largest for public universities, while the vast majority have far less.

What To Know

The New York Times reported that Ryan tendered his resignation to the head of the board that oversees UVA on Thursday.

Ryan’s letter said he had planned to step down from his role at the end of the next academic year, but “given the circumstances and today’s conversations,” he had decided “with great sadness” to resign now.

The Department of Justice has been investigating UVA’s compliance with Trump’s directive to roll back DEI programs. The department reportedly said Ryan’s departure as the university’s president was a condition to help resolve the inquiry.

The UVA Board of Visitors had previously voted to dissolve its DEI office, aligning with federal mandates. But critics argued that the university’s actions were insufficient and conservatives and DOJ officials, some of whom are UVA alumni, accused the school of merely renaming its DEI program.

Ryan has served as the university’s president since 2018, and his resignation underscores the broader national debate over the role of DEI in higher education. He was the dean of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education before he was hired to lead UVA seven years ago.

According to Ryan’s biography on Harvard’s website, he played a key role in increasing the “size, strength and diversity” of the elite school’s faculty and prioritized building a diverse community.

What People Are Saying

Virginia’s two Democratic senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, in a joint statement: “Virginia’s economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system. It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth’s globally recognized university remove President Ryan—a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward—over ridiculous ‘culture war’ traps.”

They added: “Decisions about UVA’s leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia’s well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia’s future.”

America First Legal, a conservative group founded by Trump aide and anti-immigrant hardliner Stephen Miller, told the DOJ in a May letter: UVA chose to “rename, repackage, and redeploy the same unlawful infrastructure under a lexicon of euphemisms.”

The group called Ryan out directly, pointing out that he joined hundreds of other college presidents in signing a public statement condemning the Trump administration’s “overreach and political interference.”

What Happens Next

UVA’s board accepted Ryan’s resignation on Thursday, but it’s unclear when his last day will be. According to The New York Times, he said in his letter that his resignation can be effective immediately, but “no later” than August 15.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

Update 6/27/25, 4:40 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 6/27/25, 5:02 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.