Senate Democratic Leadership sent a letter to George Mason University, Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia telling them not to recognize the appointees that a Senate committee recently rejected. Senate Democrats also informed GMU that they do not have a quorum and cannot conduct any legal business, and sent a separate letter to the rector of GMU, citing concerns with his ties to the conservative think-tank, The Heritage Foundation.
The letters, signed by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Senate Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, and Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke, drive home the point that Senate Democrats are trying to check Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s power in appointments at institutes of higher education in Virginia.
They have rejected a long list of appointments to boards of Visitors this year, accusing them of being too partisan. The rejections have left multiple vacancies on the boards. 10 GMU board members have been removed, along with seven at VMI and five at UVA.
A Fairfax Circuit Court affirmed the Senate Democrats’ power to block appointments this summer, but Attorney General Jason Miyares filed an appeal with the Virginia Supreme Court.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin responded to the letters in a statement on social media Tuesday.
“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,” Youngkin wrote. “Their goal is clear: They want to stack the boards with their liberal friends who will openly defy federal anti-discrimination laws, promote protests and put student safety at risk, drive-up costs for Virginia families, and make it harder for qualified Virginia students to gain admission to our great colleges and universities. Our boards should not be treated this way, and they will not be intimidated as they continue to follow the law.”
In a letter just to GMU’s rector, Charles Stimson, Democrats expressed a concern over his roles as the GMU board’s leader and a legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation.
“I write to express serious additional concerns regarding an apparent conflict of interest that has emerged in your dual roles as Rector of George Mason University and Senior Legal Fellow at The Heritage Foundation,” Democrats wrote. “The Heritage Foundation published a report on September 2, 2025, titled ‘Uncovering Radical Efforts to Disguise DEI,’ which specifically targets George Mason University and President Gregory Washington by name. This report appears strategically timed to coincide with ongoing federal investigations and deliberately undermines the university you are sworn to govern and protect as Rector.”
The report from The Heritage Foundation recommends withholding federal money from George Mason.
“As Rector, you have fiduciary duties to advocate for the university’s best interests, including securing necessary federal funding. Yet your employer has publicly advocated for actions that would directly harm the institution you lead,” Democrats wrote.
The federal Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights notified George Mason on July 1 that they are opening an investigation into the university after receiving a complaint about antisemitism on campus.
The Education Department announced a second investigation shortly after the first, stating that multiple professors at GMU “allege that the university illegally uses race and other immutable characteristics in university policies, including hiring and promotion.”
“Despite the leadership of George Mason University claiming that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, it appears that its hiring and promotion policies and practices from 2020 to the present, implemented under the guise of so-called ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,’ not only allow but champion illegal racial preferencing in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.
GMU responded with a statement, writing that they received the notification of the second investigation at the same time as the press, calling that “unprecedented in our experience.”
GMU said they do not discriminate, and constantly review policies to make sure they are following state and federal guidelines.
“It seems like this is orchestrated,” Washington told ProPublica. “The same people who are kind of aligned that got rid of Jim Ryan are aligned against me.”
The Trump administration is demanding an apology from Washington, which he has so far refused.
Senate Democrats are demanding that Stimson recuse himself from any discussions related to Washington’s employment as president of GMU.
Stimson responded to Democrats in a letter that was obtained by Virginia Scope Tuesday night.
“I served thirty years in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, on active duty and as a reservist, in roles that spanned from prosecutor to defense counsel to Deputy Chief Judge of the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary,” Stimson wrote. “Those experiences, and others, have required me to put my personal opinions aside and serve impartially and with integrity. Since the House of Delegates and the Senate approved my appointment without a single vote of opposition in either chamber, I have brought this same skill to my service to the University. I can attest that my fellow Board members do the same.”
Stimson said he works on national security and crime policy at The Heritage Foundation and is not involved in the education work.
“Since my appointment to the Board of Visitors, I have made certain that I am fully walled off from Heritage’s work concerning education policy, especially GMU,” Stimson continued. “I strongly reject the premise that any citizen of our Commonwealth should be disqualified from public service simply because some elected officials may disagree with statements or articles attributed to other private individuals who happen to work for the same employer.”
He concluded by saying the board will continue to serve the university and “follow the law.”