Trump administration launches probe of DEI policy at George Mason University

The Department of Education has launched a bed into George Mason University's hiring practices, the second time this month that the school has been the target of a federal investigation

A complaint by fessors alleges that George Mason violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by giving preferential treatment to candidates from "underrepresented groups. "If found in violation, the Fairfax, Virginia university could be at risk of losing its federal funding

Statue of George Mason on campus of George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

Robert Knopes | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesThe Department of Education said Thursday that it has opened an investigation into George Mason University's hiring and motion practices, the second federal be of the Fairfax, Virginia, school launched in the past month

The department's Office for Civil Rights is investigating a complaint filed by GMU fessors who alleged that the university's personnel decisions are skewed to favor some racial groups over others

The department said in a statement that the alleged behavior "creates a racially hostile environment" and could violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

If the investigation concludes that the university did, in fact, violate faculty members' civil rights, GMU could be at risk of losing its federal funding

George Mason is the second major Virginia public institution to be targeted by the Trump administration in recent weeks

Jim Ryan, the longtime president of the University of Virginia, stepped down in June after UVA was the target of a federal investigation into its DEI policies, and the Justice Department called for Ryan's resignation

Mike Kropf | Getty ImagesAccording to the George Mason complaint, several fessors alleged that the university has given "preferential treatment" to people from "underrepresented groups" starting in 2020

This was the same year that university president Gregory Washington began his tenure as GMU's first Black president. "The Trump-McMahon Education Department's Office for Civil Rights will investigate this matter fully to ensure that individuals are judged based on their merit and accomplishment, not the color of their skin," said Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the department, in a statement

The Department of Education highlighted five central allegations outlined in the complaint

They include a claim that the school has "Equity Advisors" focused on equity in recruitment, and that GMU has a Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence

The complaint also alleges that Washington vided guidance to faculty that a spective candidate who surpassed certain requirements for a position would be hired based on his or her "diversity

Even if that candidate may not have better credentials than the other candidate," according to the education department

George Mason says it only received notice of the investigation Thursday, at the same time that news organizations did. "George Mason University again affirms its commitment to comply with all federal and state mandates," the school said in a statement. "The university consistently reviews its policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal laws, d executive orders, and on-going agency directives. "Read more CNBC coverageTrump loses appeal of $5 million E

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Thursday's be marks the second this month for GMU, which was notified last week by the OCR that it was being investigated for allegedly failing to "respond effectively to a pervasively hostile environment" for Jewish community members

That investigation mirrors similar ones launched into Harvard University and Columbia University, amid an intensifying Trump attack on higher education

Some of the schools that have been targeted by the Trump administration, such as the University of California, Berkeley, have long traditions of nurturing gressive ideas and fostering a diverse, inclusive campus

But George Mason is not one of these schools