If you thought today’s news couldn’t keep getting worse, try this on for size.

University President Jim Ryan submitted his resignation to the Board of Visitors Friday, according to the New York Times. This change follows an ongoing investigation conducted by the Department of Justice into Ryan’s leadership and pressure calling for him to resign.

The University did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.

The New York Times reported Thursday that Justice Department officials demanded Ryan’s resignation. These demands came in private negotiations with the Board of Visitors surrounding the University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies.

Now let’s just be clear what this is all about: the Trump administration waging a relentless, vicious, outrageous, unAmerican assault on academic freedom, diversity/equity/inclusion, public education, etc. Just appalling. See below for reactions, starting with Del. Katrina Callsen (D-Charlottesville/Albemarle), who says:

“A sad day for higher education in our country. Trump’s actions are wildly inappropriate overreach. Colleges are places of learning, free thought, and opportunity – they should stay that way.”

WARNER & KAINE STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF JIM RYAN AS PRESIDENT OF UVA

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after Jim Ryan resigned as President of University of Virginia following pressure from the Department of Justice (DOJ):

“Virginia’s economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system. It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth’s globally recognized university remove President Ryan—a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward—over ridiculous ‘culture war’ traps. Decisions about UVA’s leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia’s well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia’s future.”

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From Fairfax County School Board Chair Karl Frisch:

Dear University of Virginia Board of Visitors, Members of the Virginia General Assembly, and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate,

As a proud University of Virginia (UVA) graduate and a public servant, I’m writing to express my deep alarm at recent reports that the U.S. Department of Justice is threatening to withhold federal funding unless the University forces President Jim Ryan to resign. This kind of political pressure is unacceptable in a democracy, and it demands an immediate and uncompromising response.

No federal agency should be allowed to use funding as a weapon to punish a university president for political reasons. That’s not governance, that’s extortion. Impounding federal funds to coerce leadership changes at a public university is not only unlawful and unconstitutional, it’s a direct attack on the principles of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic governance.

I care about this not because of politics, but because of principle. No matter who holds power in Washington, universities must be protected from political interference. UVA must remain free to govern itself without fear of retaliation. The future of higher education in America depends on it.

As Thomas Jefferson himself said of the University he founded, “This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind, for here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” That vision, of fearless pursuit of truth, must not be trampled.

This is about far more than one university president. It’s about defending Virginia’s sovereignty and rejecting such overreach. The DOJ has no authority to dictate leadership at one of our Commonwealth’s flagship institutions. Jefferson would have condemned such an intrusion in the strongest possible terms. He is not here to speak up, but you are. And you must.

To the Board of Visitors and our elected leaders in Richmond and Washington: You must act. Use every legal, procedural, and public platform at your disposal to resist this federal overreach and defend the University of Virginia. Our University cannot, and must not, be made a political pawn.

In the spirit of the Good Old Song, “Let’s all join hands and give a yell, for the dear old UVA” — while we still can.

In service,

Karl Frisch
Chair, Fairfax County School Board

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Statement from Senate Democratic Caucus

In response to reports from The New York Times that University of Virginia President Jim Ryan is being pressured to resign by the Trump Administration, we issue the following statement:

Virginia’s public higher education institutions are the envy of higher education systems across the United States of America, which is precisely why the Trump Administration seeks to micromanage them. Our universities have built reputations for academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing leaders who contribute to our Commonwealth and nation including dozens for former Supreme Court Justices, U.S. Senators, Congressmen, U.S. Attorney’s General, Governors, and other notable Americans.

The Virginia Senate stands strongly in support of President Ryan and the presidents of all our public universities. We recognize their commitment to maintaining the academic integrity and educational mission that have made Virginia’s institutions world-class centers of learning.

We call upon all Boards of Visitors across our 14 public colleges and universities to resist any efforts by the Trump Administration to dictate how Virginia runs its own taxpayer funded schools. Our institutions of higher learning must remain focused on their educational mission, free from political interference that undermines their autonomy and academic freedom.

The Senate of Virginia will be watching the Trump Administration’s actions closely over the coming months. We will carefully monitor and consider any Board’s reaction to federal interference in our state’s higher education governance as we evaluate the more than 60 pending nominations to Boards of Visitors across Virginia’s public colleges and universities, including four at the University of Virginia, the additional vacancy created by Ken Cuccineli’s rejection, the four vacancies and George Mason University and six additional pending nominations on their sixteen member boards.

Virginia has a proud tradition of educational excellence that spans centuries. We will not allow political pressure from Washington to compromise the integrity of our institutions or the leaders who have dedicated their careers to advancing higher education in the Commonwealth.

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Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Condemns the Politically-Motivated Attack Against President Jim Ryan and Public Education

RICHMOND, VA – The forced resignation of President Jim Ryan is a grave reflection of the growing political assault on public education. As a respected and capable leader, President Ryan has advanced the University of Virginia’s mission as one of the nation’s top public institutions—expanding access to education and stewarding one of Virginia’s largest health systems.

Now, he and UVA are under attack—because public education is under attack.

The Trump administration, in partnership with Governor Youngkin, has turned yet another public institution into a political target. Their goal is clear: to defund public education, rewrite what is taught in classrooms, restrict who gets to learn, and remove leaders who refuse to conform to their narrow ideological vision. This is not just about one university President—this is about dismantling public education as we know it.

We’ve seen this pattern before—most recently with the political removal of the first Black leader of VMI. Black communities know what’s at stake. Many of us took part in the uphill battle for our right to learn and we must again insist upon our children’s access to the classroom.

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus is unwavering in our commitment to protect public education. We will continue investing in our schools, our teachers, and our students.

Any institution that receives public funding must serve all Virginians. If UVA’s Board of Visitors will not stand up for students, faculty, and the public good, we are confident that as our next Governor, Abigail Spanberger will.

This is about more than one person. It’s about the future of public education in Virginia—and who gets to shape it.