George Mason University’s Board of Visitors has extended President Gregory Washington’s contract through June 2031, even after a period of intense pressure tied to federal investigations and the Trump administration’s civil-rights stance on diversity efforts. The prior contract was set to expire in 2027. The decision comes amid scrutiny of Washington—GMU’s first Black president—after the Office for Civil Rights accused him of enforcing “unlawful DEI policies” as part of a broader federal push to increase faculty diversity. Washington rejected the findings and publicly challenged them, while the board earlier faced criticism from governance advocates who feared Washington could be removed. The extension also reflects a governance shift: the GMU board now includes a new slate of trustees appointed by Virginia’s Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger.