George Mason University and its president, Gregory Washington, have rejected accusations from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights alleging discriminatory hiring and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. The university's legal counsel labeled the investigation as incomplete and selective, asserting compliance with federal law. Despite calls for a public apology from President Washington for implementing allegedly unlawful DEI policies, the university highlights restructuring of its DEI offices in line with federal directives. These developments occur amidst a broader political context of federal scrutiny into DEI initiatives nationwide, underscoring tensions between institutions and the current administration over race-conscious policies in higher education.