University of Virginia President James E. Ryan resigned on June 27, 2025, following pressure from President Trump’s Department of Justice over the university’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. The resignation was reportedly a condition in negotiations to end a federal civil rights investigation targeting UVA’s DEI structure.
Ryan, who had led UVA since 2018, stated he accelerated his planned departure to protect students, faculty, and funding. He emphasized that challenging the federal government would put jobs, research, and international students at risk. His exit set off a chain reaction: UVA’s provost, top medical leaders, and other senior officials also stepped down.
With Acting President J. J. Wagner Davis now at the helm, the university faces internal uncertainty. UVA’s Faculty Senate has demanded transparency around federal involvement and board actions. Multiple resolutions have called for clarity on the process and urged collaboration between faculty and the Board of Visitors in selecting a permanent successor.
The university’s leadership vacuum occurs amid wider tension over academic independence in Virginia. A Richmond Circuit Court recently invalidated several board appointments made by Governor Glenn Youngkin, ruling them unlawful. These appointments had influenced university governance and DEI policy direction.
Conservative alumni groups like the Jefferson Council applauded Ryan’s resignation, viewing it as a long-awaited rollback of identity politics. Meanwhile, Democrat Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine condemned the DOJ’s pressure campaign as unprecedented federal interference in university operations.
The federal probe and resignations reflect growing scrutiny of public universities’ ideological programs under President Trump’s administration. The University of Virginia now serves as a high-profile test case in the national battle over DEI policy, academic freedom, and government oversight.
