NASW Virginia Supports George Mason University in Its Pushback Against Federal Anti-Discrimination Charges

The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) fully supports George Mason University, its pioneering College of Public Health, and its nationally ranked Department of Social Work, despite recent federal claims that the school violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

According to four investigations by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, GMU “illegally used race and other immutable characteristics in university practices and policies, including hiring and promotion,” scholarship awards, and potentially college acceptance. The federal government states that these alleged practices result in biased decision making that favors people of color and discriminates against white workers, students, and applicants.

As the largest group of behavioral health providers in Virginia and the country, NASW Virginia and NASW do not accept the Trump administration’s stance that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and practices are—by their very existence—illegal. Indeed, core to our professional Code of Ethics is our belief that creating a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment—whether in school or the workplace—is ethically and morally right. 

We support the leadership and investments made by GMU President Gregory Washington, who has partnered with hundreds of nonprofits, corporations, state and local agencies, and others to develop its 40,000 diverse students into a highly trained workforce that can help resolve shortages in high-demand professions such as social work. For instance, GMU’s Department of Social Work has built a national reputation as a leader in research and practical education related to—among other issues—violence prevention, human trafficking, trauma treatment of at-risk individuals, and innovative uses of emerging technologies for mental health treatment. It also has advanced best practices for hospice care and serving the aging, behavioral health of youth and veterans, and strategies for reducing health inequities for vulnerable populations. 

Thanks in part to GMU’s Social Work Integration Research Lab (SWiRL), its graduates move into their careers with direct experience and multi-perspective knowledge of how to improve the well-being of individual clients, families, and communities. Such early-career social workers are critical to addressing the severe shortage of practitioners in hospitals, schools, corporations, government agencies, the judicial system, and other settings. 

President Washington owes no one any apology, despite federal Department of Education (DoE) demands, and we encourage the Board of Visitors to continue restating support for his leadership and to remember the hard lessons learned by other targeted universities who unsuccessfully “negotiated” with this administration. Those outcomes have included serious reputational harm, donor and alumni outrage, declining applications, forced leadership resignations and program purges, curricula and management interference, and overwhelming student and faculty opposition. Despite this harm, the Trump administration continues to expand its heavy-handed actions, ranging from strong-armed presidential resignations to direct oversight of student acceptances, personnel hiring, and program curricula.

Sadly, Virginia’s governor has supported these extreme actions and the Trump administration’s aim to destabilize and force universities to “bend the knee” or risk loss of federal funding and other “punishments.” For instance, as of September 10, the GMU Board of Visitors has only six of the eight members required by law for a quorum because a Senate Committee felt compelled to block Youngkin’s politically biased appointments. 

NASW Virginia supports the need for board members to share GMU’s longstanding commitment to DEI, academic freedom and excellence, and a welcoming culture for all students and faculty of diverse perspectives and life experiences.

We do not agree with Gov. Youngkin’s response that “Virginia’s progressive left elected officials are trying to paralyze the governing boards of Virginia’s colleges and universities by using despicable bullying and intimidation tactics” with the aim of “openly defy[ing] federal anti-discrimination laws, promoting protests and putting student safety at risk, driving up costs for Virginia families, and making it harder for qualified Virginia students to gain admission to our great colleges and universities.” 

Peaceful protests by students or anyone are a constitutionally protected right to free speech. They do not, by the simple nature of being a protest, put student safety at risk, and the voices of young people are powerful influencers in advancing discussions and decision making that affect them and their communities. We stand by GMU, its social work students, and indeed all students across Virginia to exercise their right to free speech, whether by writing for school newspapers or marching in solidarity peacefully through the streets. Indeed, the NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to actively advocate to protect the profession and the clients served by its practitioners, including those newly entering the field.

We also do not believe the abandonment of Youngkin’s far-right, anti-DEI appointees will “drive up” tuition at state public universities and thus limit access to higher education. On the contrary, if the governor wants to ensure the educational futures of Virginia’s students, he should do more to strengthen the academic leadership and reputations of our universities and colleges, as well as to continue boosting scholarships and other financial aid, especially for students heading into public service professions such as social work.       

NASW Virginia is proud to stand alongside GMU and other higher education institutions fighting back against unprecedented academic interference and the hostage hold on federal funds. We all are educated enough to know that the extreme actions by DoE and DoJ have nothing to do with “anti-discrimination” and everything to do with rising attempts by the Trump administration to control one of America’s core pillars of society and its powerful role in the practice of free speech and knowledge-sharing—our outstanding public universities and colleges.