UVA and the DOJ: A Campus Agreement and What It Means

On October 22, 2025, the University of Virginia finalized an agreement with the Justice Department and the White House that paused several federal civil rights investigations. Five investigations were placed on hold while the university works to align its policies with federal civil rights law. The agreement marked the first time a public university reached such an arrangement.

Under the terms, the university must deliver quarterly compliance reports certified by the president through 2028. If the government finds the university's progress insufficient, the Justice Department may resume enforcement actions or seek fines or loss of federal funds. Unlike settlements at Columbia and Brown, the Virginia deal includes no monetary penalty and no external monitors; therefore, implementation will depend largely on internal university actions.

Interim president Paul Mahoney said the agreement preserves academic freedom and allows the school to continue its work. Former president James Ryan resigned in June amid pressure from federal inquiries, while the Education Department's separate probe into antisemitism remains unresolved. The deal, while limiting immediate federal action, will influence how public universities respond to federal guidance on diversity and admissions.