Conservative board leadership at George Mason University is reportedly escalating its campaign against president Gregory Washington over the university’s DEI programs, according to text messages obtained by The Chronicle. The communications describe a sustained effort to force Washington to “dismantle” DEI initiatives and “fall in line” with demands tied to the incoming policy agenda. The account frames the conflict as a board–president clash over institutional priorities rather than standard oversight. That posture matters for higher education governance because DEI program reviews often flow through shared governance channels—meaning an abrupt board-driven directive can intensify faculty and student opposition. For Mason, the immediate implication is governance uncertainty at a time when institutions nationwide are navigating federal civil-rights scrutiny and policy shifts affecting campus practices.