The Trump administration is back in action and swinging at diversity efforts—this time with federal probes into George Mason University and the state of Minnesota for their DEI and hiring practices. Yes, in 2025, this is still somehow a thing.
The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into George Mason University, citing potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The allegation? That the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies might have given “preferential treatment” to faculty from “underrepresented groups.” Translation: they’re being investigated for trying to be too inclusive.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is poking around Minnesota’s Department of Human Services, checking whether the state’s employment practices discriminate based on race or sex. The state clapped back, insisting it’s been following the law to the letter—since 1987, thank you very much.
A New Target on DEI—and the LGBTQ Community
This is just the latest in Trump’s war on DEI, which has turned into a full-blown crusade. Under his second administration, institutions that dare to recognize historic inequities or champion marginalized communities are quickly becoming federal targets. The administration has already threatened to strip funding from educational institutions that support DEI efforts, climate policies, transgender inclusion, or even those that allow students to protest U.S. support for Israel.
This isn’t just about faculty hires or bureaucratic compliance—it’s about the future of inclusive spaces, particularly for queer folks and trans individuals who’ve long relied on DEI frameworks to push for equal treatment and representation in schools and the workplace.
LGBTQ rights advocates argue DEI isn’t about discrimination—it’s about correction. “These programs are designed to help level the playing field for communities historically left out of the conversation,” said a civil rights expert familiar with the investigation. But Trump? He’s painting DEI as anti-merit, and worse, as discrimination against white men.
The Fallout for Queer Communities
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the rollback of DEI efforts disproportionately impacts the LGBTQ community. These initiatives often protect queer students and staff by supporting inclusive hiring, gender-affirming healthcare, safe spaces on campus, and policies that ensure non-discrimination. Gutting them sends a not-so-subtle message: You don’t belong here.
And it doesn’t stop with schools. The Department of Agriculture also joined the party, announcing it would stop factoring in race or sex when handing out loans or grants—erasing decades of effort to undo the department’s own racist and sexist history.
So while some might frame this as a return to “neutrality,” make no mistake—it’s about silencing equity in favor of status quo power. And for marginalized communities, especially LGBTQ individuals still fighting for recognition in public institutions, this move isn’t neutral. It’s erasure in real time.
The Pink Times will continue following these investigations closely and exposing how these bureaucratic backflips in the name of “merit” impact our communities. Because when DEI goes under the knife, it’s queer rights that bleed.