George Mason University President Gregory Washington told faculty at a town hall that he is facing intensified federal scrutiny after the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice opened multiple investigations into the university’s diversity initiatives and complaints about antisemitism. Federal teams have requested records and raised questions about hiring practices tied to efforts to boost faculty of color. Washington denied wrongdoing and outlined administrative changes the university has made, including renaming and disbanding several DEI offices. The investigations have triggered internal strain: faculty governance groups defended Washington while the Justice Department flagged a Faculty Senate resolution supporting the president. The public probe and related media coverage have put the board, donors and stakeholders on alert, prompting speculation about governance changes and reputational risk for a campus already described as “highly scrutinized.” Why it matters: federal civil-rights enforcement is now an explicit operational risk for universities that undertake targeted diversity and hiring initiatives. The George Mason case signals potential legal and oversight exposure for peer institutions that tie recruitment or programming to race-conscious goals.