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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Virginia (UVA) will dismantle its unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) infrastructure under a new agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which requires sweeping reforms to bring the university into compliance with federal civil rights laws. This action follows an extensive investigation and subsequent federal civil rights complaint from America First Legal (AFL) calling for enforcement against the university’s unlawful and discriminatory practices. This is a sweeping victory for equal treatment under the law and a warning to every university that uses taxpayer dollars to engage in discriminatory practices.
This resolution follows months of federal oversight and public pressure to ensure that UVA complies with its legal obligations. On March 7, 2025, UVA’s Board of Visitors adopted a resolution requiring the university to dismantle all DEI-related policies, programs, and preferences that discriminate on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin.
On April 28, 2025, DOJ placed UVA on notice for failing to comply with federal civil rights laws, controlling U.S. Supreme Court precedent, and Executive Orders issued by President Donald Trump and directed the university to certify with “precision and particularity” that every school, division, and department had purged unlawful programs and practices in compliance with the March 7 mandate.
DOJ also ordered UVA to provide a detailed accounting of every department, role, and title that had been eliminated, to identify individuals who previously held DEI-related positions, and to produce documentation demonstrating the full dismantling of DEI across the institution. This level of oversight marks one of the most comprehensive federal enforcement actions against DEI in higher education to date.
On May 21, 2025, America First Legal submitted a comprehensive civil rights complaint and investigative letter to DOJ supporting these enforcement efforts. The submission, supported by more than 48 exhibits, documented UVA’s unlawful attempt to preserve and rebrand DEI under a new lexicon of euphemisms such as “community engagement” and “inclusive excellence.” AFL’s complaint urged DOJ to order the complete elimination of race-, sex-, and identity-based programs; dismantle discriminatory offices and committees; require presidential certification of compliance; and audit federally funded programs supporting unlawful practices. The message was simple: universities that discriminate under the guise of “diversity” will face consequences.
This outcome reflects the core objectives of AFL’s complaint and represents a decisive victory for equal protection and merit-based governance in higher education. Under DOJ’s agreement, UVA must adhere to DOJ’s Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination, provide quarterly compliance data through 2028, and obtain a formal written certification of compliance from the university president. The DOJ has paused its investigations contingent upon UVA’s full compliance; failure to comply will trigger renewed enforcement.
“This agreement is a victory for civil rights and for every American who believes in fairness over favoritism. Universities cannot evade the law through rebranding or ideological defiance,” said Megan Redshaw, counsel at America First Legal. “Federal funds come with federal obligations, and this outcome proves that those obligations will be enforced. It is a decisive step toward restoring merit, equal treatment, and the rule of law in American education. We commend the Department of Justice and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon for their exceptional leadership and commitment to upholding the rule of law. This is a decisive step toward restoring merit, equal treatment, and the rule of law in American education.”
AFL will continue to monitor the University of Virginia’s compliance and press for full enforcement to ensure that these reforms are meaningful and lasting. AFL remains committed to dismantling unlawful DEI frameworks across higher education and to restoring equal protection, merit, and the rule of law in every institution.
Read the full letter to DOJ here.
Learn more about AFL’s investigation here.
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