Breaking: Richmond finance director Sheila White resigns
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Trump administration investigating GMU over report of discrimination
Department of Education is investigating George Mason University for possible racial discrimination. A group of professors at the university in Fairfax County filed a report asserting that university leadership illegally uses race as a factor in hiring and promotions. The investigation is the latest move by President Donald Trump’s administration to eradicate DEI from American colleges and punish colleges that don’t comply. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both from Virginia, called the accusations against Mason “vague and politically charged” Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said Washington is being maligned for promoting antisemitism “without a scintilla of evidence,” he said. two weeks. Last week, it opened a probe into claims that GMU failed to respond to a hostile environment for Jewish students and faculty since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023. House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, is not happy with either the education department or Gov. Glenn Youngkin over the new investigation. “It’s disappointing, disturbing and I think he cares more about his presidential ambitions than he does the commonwealth,” Surovell said.
A group of professors at the university in Fairfax County filed a report asserting that university leadership illegally uses race as a factor in hiring and promotions. The complaint alleges that the school’s president, Gregory Washington, instructed administrators to consider how an applicant would improve the school’s diversity, “even if that candidate may not have better credentials than the other candidate.”
Craig Trainor, the education department’s acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights, alleged in a statement Thursday that Mason’s hiring practices appear to “champion illegal racial preferencing,” violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The education department announced the investigation Thursday, one day before University of Virginia president Jim Ryan will leave his position. Ryan came under pressure from federal authorities for similar accusations, as leaders in the Department of Justice claimed he too slowly removed diversity, equity and inclusion programs from the school.
The opening of another investigation drew condemnation from Democrats. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both from Virginia, called the accusations against Mason “vague and politically charged” in an opinion column Thursday in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Stephanie Aaronson, a spokesperson for Mason, said the university does not discriminate on the basis of race or any other protected status. The university received the Department of Education’s letter Thursday morning, just as the letter became public. Mason is committed to following the law, Aaronson said, and will respond to the education department.
Earlier this year, state and federal authorities directed colleges in Virginia to eradicate DEI programs and positions. In March, Washington, George Mason’s president, announced that Mason’s DEI office would become the “Office of Access, Compliance, and Community,” according to the education department. The GMU president said Mason did not need to change its hiring or promotion policies because they already complied with existing civil rights laws.
The professors who filed the complaint with the Department of Education say the school’s discriminatory behavior dates back to 2020 and was implemented under the guise of DEI. They claim the university gives preferential treatment to faculty from “underrepresented groups” to advance “anti-racism.”
This is the second investigation the education department has opened in two weeks. Last week, it opened a probe into claims that GMU failed to respond to a hostile environment for Jewish students and faculty since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023.
Delegate says GMU is compliant with DEI laws
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said Washington is being maligned for promoting antisemitism “without a scintilla of evidence.” Wilder, the nation’s first elected Black governor, compared Washington’s situation to Cedric Wins, who was the Virginia Military Institute’s first Black superintendent, until the university’s board voted Feb. 28 not to renew his contract.
Washington “is not the only person of color heading our colleges and universities being subjected to specious and questionable charges,” Wilder said.
House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, is not happy with either the education department or Gov. Glenn Youngkin over the new investigation at George Mason.
“If they are saying that Mason is not in compliance with DEI, I don’t think that’s the case at all,” said Torian, who also faulted Youngkin for not defending George Mason and other Virginia public institutions.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, accused Youngkin of “coordinating with the Trump administration to try to interfere with George Mason, UVa and other Virginia higher education crown jewels.
“It’s just another example of Youngkin not standing up to Donald Trump for our commonwealth,” Surovell said. “It’s disappointing, disturbing and I think he cares more about his presidential ambitions than he does the commonwealth.”
A Senate committee voted last month to block eight candidates that Youngkin had appointed to university governing boards, but the Youngkin and Miyares insist that the new members will take their seats until the General Assembly convenes in January.
A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge has scheduled a hearing for July 25 on a request by Senate Democrats to prevent Youngkin’s nominees at George Mason, UVa and VMI from assuming their roles.
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-11th, served on the GMU board for eight years, six as rector, the position he held when George Mason hired Washington as president.
Davis said Thursday in a telephone interview that he does not know what the investigation is about, “but I don’t think you’re going to find anything.”
Davis said Republicans are “playing with fire” as the Democrat-controlled legislature refuses to confirm the governor’s appointments to GMU’s board of visitors.
“It’s not pretty,” he said. “How many universities are under investigation right now? It’s not one or two, it’s not a one-off.”
Davis urged Republicans and Democrats to work on a solution “for the good of the university.”
GMU the 2nd school to come under scrutiny
The elimination of DEI programs has played out differently across Virginia colleges. At Virginia Commonwealth University, its board of visitors voted to eliminate the Office of Inclusive Excellence, reassign staffers whose jobs focus primarily with DEI and hire a consultant to check the school’s work.
At UVa, its board also voted to strike the DEI office. But what came next is not clear. Federal officials accused UVa of slow-walking change, and a spokesperson for the university did not respond to a question about those accusations.
Republicans and Democrats disagree on the value of DEI programs. School leaders often say those offices and programs aim to make everyone feel welcome and ensure hiring managers cast a wide net. Republicans have argued that promoting equity amounts to illegal racial discrimination.
Richmond Finance Director Sheila White resigns
Sheila White’s last day will be July 25. White joined the city as a deputy director in 2020 and became director in 2021. Her resignation comes on the heels of many recent controversies within the department and complaints of dysfunction, inefficiencies, and outdated systems. White has previously stated those issues pre-dated her time due to a history of leadership turnover, lack of accountability, understaffing, paper-based systems, and a culture of silos among employees. She told the City Council last year replacing her as director would “certainly disrupt the work in progress and revert the to the dysfunction the city has experienced in the past”
According to an email sent by the city’s Procurement Director Rene Almarez, White is leaving her role “for another opportunity.”
Her last day will be July 25.
“Sheila’s unwavering dedication and exemplary leadership have shaped the financial stability of our city. Through countless budget cycles, challenging fiscal climates, and ambitious projects, her integrity and vision have guided us toward responsible stewardship and sustainable growth,” Almarez wrote in the email.
The email continued, “As Senior Director of Finance, Sheila was instrumental in achieving the City’s first-ever AAA credit rating from Fitch, revised tax relief programs for older adults, and streamlined payment processes to better serve our community. We extend our deepest gratitude for her service, mentorship, and tireless pursuit of excellence, and wish her happiness and fulfillment in all their future endeavors, confident that her positive impact on our city will endure.”
White joined the city as a deputy director in 2020 and became director in 2021.
Her resignation comes on the heels of many recent controversies within the department and complaints of dysfunction, inefficiencies, and outdated systems. White has previously stated those issues pre-dated her time due to a history of leadership turnover, lack of accountability, understaffing, paper-based systems, and a culture of silos among employees.
Some of the significant problems that impacted taxpayers during her tenure included the 2024 meals tax fiasco in which dozens of restaurant owners said they were unfairly hit with significant surprise late fees due to poor communication and collection practices on the city’s part.
Inaccurate personal property tax bills , accounting errors, confusion over taxpayer credits , and a broken cash reconciliation process were also subjects of internal audits and inspector general investigations in recent years. Last month, CBS 6 reported on an unreleased Inspector General report which found the Finance Department kept more than $3 million in excess business taxes without notifying taxpayers they were due credits or refunds.
Additionally, earlier this year, the department issued thousands of incorrect rebate checks and failed to develop standard operating procedures before initiating the process and mistakenly issued real estate tax bills due to a system error.
White told the City Council last year replacing her as director would “certainly disrupt the work in progress and revert the to the dysfunction the city has experienced in the past.”
At the time, White said she had taken many steps to address the department’s shortcomings including initiating a reorganization, increasing staff capacity, developing new standard operating procedures, automating systems, and expanding customer service. She also launched employee monitoring controls and continuous auditing to track the progress of ongoing changes.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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