US launches probe into employment practices at George Mason University in Virginia

WASHINGTON

The US Justice Department said Thursday it opened an investigation into George Mason University in the state of Virginia to determine whether it "is engaged in discriminatory employment practices based on race and sex."

Department officials said the inquiry stemmed from statements and internal policies promoted by the school’s leadership, suggesting that race and sex are influencing employment decisions under the guise of diversity goals.

Multiple emails and internal reports reportedly show that certain racial and gender groups are receiving preferential treatment in hiring and advancement, according to a statement from the Justice Department.

"It is unlawful and un-American to deny equal access to employment opportunities on the basis of race and sex," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon from the department's Civil Rights Division.

"When employers screen out qualified candidates from the hiring process, they not only erode trust in our public institutions—they violate the law, and the Justice Department will investigate accordingly," said Dhillon.