Under intensifying political pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration, universities across the country are scaling back, rebranding and eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs. What was once considered a priority in higher education is now being scrutinized by stakeholders through a partisan lens, forcing administrators to navigate a rapidly shifting political landscape while reassessing whether or how to uphold their diversity commitments. According to a Chronicle of Higher Education analysis, more than 400 campuses in 47 states and the District have made changes to DEI offices, jobs, training and related activities since January 2023, with a pronounced uptick in 2025 as federal pressure mounted. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that GW clearly demonstrate to its community members its commitment to DEI principles, ensuring equity and inclusion remain core to its institutional identity in the face of growing political pressure and national rollbacks.

With so many universities visibly backing away from DEI, any lack of transparency or communication from GW is likely to be interpreted by community members as a sign of capitulation, whether or not that’s the University’s intent. GW pushed back this year’s already-delayed Diversity Summit without offering an explanation beyond that it was “postponed in order to reimagine a new opportunity,” failing to clarify whether the decision was connected to the Trump administration’s DEI crackdown. The University may very well have had reasons unrelated to federal pressure, but in the absence of communication, much of the community would reasonably assume it is. During a time when so many universities are capitulating to Trump — who has labeled DEI efforts as “illegal” and “immoral” — GW must clearly state their reasoning if they expect the community to continue placing trust in their stated commitment.

The same goes for providing a clear update on officials’ plan to hire a new Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement, as the role has now been vacant for over a year. It’s essential that the University signals to its community that it values and is actively prioritizing the position, which has historically led key inclusion initiatives like conducting campus climate surveys and organizing the annual Diversity Summit. So far, GW has shared little publicly about its plans to fill the role. Although officials said last year that they would conduct a national search, they have not provided updates since, and the position is not currently listed on the University’s job site. At a time when inclusion and belonging are under heightened scrutiny by the federal government, GW needs visible, committed leadership to ensure it upholds its stated values of openness, respect, diversity and collaboration. The lack of visible commitment to filling the vice provost role gives the impression that GW is retreating in the face of political pressure, whether intentional or not.

Additionally, a University spokesperson said officials would talk with the Board of Trustees and other key advisers about the Trump administration’s education compact, which proposes measures like limiting international student enrollment and mandating standardized test scores — policies that could undermine GW’s commitment to diversity in admissions. This is a pivotal moment for GW to communicate clearly whether it’s open to capitulating in any form. Rejecting the compact would demonstrate a genuine commitment to inclusivity, while considering or accepting it arguably signals that diversity is not a top priority. In the absence of clear communication around this, community members could again reasonably wonder if GW is unwaveringly committed to upholding DEI amid Trump pressures.

With DEI programs under attack by the federal administration, it’s understandable that GW may be hesitant to issue public statements or press releases celebrating diversity or reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive campus. But silence, especially in this political moment, sends a message in itself to the community. In January, Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government — declaring many of them “illegal” and launching a task force of officials to identify, review and terminate such initiatives. As part of this broader crackdown, Trump has threatened to withhold billions in federal funding from institutions that fail to comply, freezing funds for some universities and filing lawsuits targeting schools over DEI programs and academic content.

In the months since the order, many universities have either preemptively or reactively altered or eliminated DEI-related offices and policies. At Harvard University, officials renamed the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging the Office of Community and Campus Life after the administration warned that their federal funding would be at risk if the DEI office remained intact. Other institutions, like Emerson College and Brandeis University, have taken anticipatory steps, rebranding offices with more neutral language like “community” or “access,” deliberately omitting terms such as “diversity” or “equity” to avoid scrutiny while maintaining core functions under less controversial titles.

If the University feels its language and communication surrounding DEI must remain vague to protect the institution from Trump, its actions must speak louder. It is imperative that GW demonstrates, through clear and consistent efforts, where it stands on DEI. Words may be weighed carefully, but the University’s values must still be visible in the policies it upholds, the programs it funds and the positions it prioritizes filling. Just as vital as its commitment to hiring someone for the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement role is the continuation and expansion of programming like the annual Diversity Summit and updates on the implementation of GW’s Diversity Action Plan, which includes goals like hiring more diverse faculty and staff and increasing support for the Multicultural Student Services Center. These are necessary investments in the kind of diverse campus community GW has repeatedly asserted it aspires to be, especially during a time when other universities are caving under pressure from the Trump administration.

We recognize that GW is navigating an incredibly challenging landscape, balancing the need to protect its DEI policies from scrutiny by the Trump administration while continuing to serve its community. But officials must also understand that failing to clearly communicate the reasons behind decisions like postponing diversity programs or remaining silent on the search for a top diversity official sends a message to its stakeholders too. Amid Trump’s DEI crackdown, silence can be easily interpreted as retreat or complacency. Transparent, consistent communication is essential to maintaining trust and demonstrating GW’s commitment to building and maintaining an inclusive and welcoming campus.