Former University of Virginia president James E. Ryan released a detailed 12‑page letter describing an intense pressure campaign that led to his abrupt resignation. Ryan says Department of Justice lawyers signaled the university risked losing federal research funding if he remained, and that a small group of board members seized on that pressure to force him out. His account—first reported in depth by The New York Times and circulated to the Faculty Senate—frames the episode as a high‑stakes clash among the board, federal officials, and university leadership, and raises questions about governance, academic freedom, and the vulnerability of research funding to political intervention. Ryan’s narrative details a four‑hour ultimatum and accuses some board members of dishonesty and political maneuvering. The disclosures have prompted scrutiny across higher education about the role of governing boards and external political actors in presidential tenure decisions. University leaders and trustees nationwide are watching for legal and funding fallout; Ryan’s account could also factor into litigation or oversight inquiries tied to the episode.