Response to Jim Ryan's resignation

The UVA president is giving in to the Trump administration's demand he resign.

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Response to Ryan stepping down

Virginia leaders responded to the news that UVA President Jim Ryan is stepping down, following pressure from President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice.

Below is the letter Ryan sent to the UVA community:

United States Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine: “Virginia’s economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system. It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth’s globally recognized university remove President Ryan—a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward—over ridiculous ‘culture war’ traps. Decisions about UVA’s leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia’s well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia’s future.”

Gov. Glenn Youngkin: “I thank President Ryan for his service and his hard work on behalf of the University of Virginia. The Board of Visitors has my complete confidence as they swiftly appoint a strong interim steward, and undertake the national search for a transformational leader that can take Mr. Jefferson’s university into the next decade and beyond.”

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger: “The resignation of President Jim Ryan is a loss for the University of Virginia and the Commonwealth. That the president of a top-ranked, thriving public university would be pressured to resign by the Department of Justice — in order to avoid further harm and harassment from the Trump Administration — is a clear infringement upon academic freedom and should concern every Virginian and American. As an alumna of the University of Virginia, I am deeply saddened to see our Governor, his Administration, and so many members of the Board of Visitors remain silent in the face of these attacks on the integrity and independence of the University of Virginia. As Governor, I will take decisive steps to ensure that all of our Commonwealth’s Boards of Visitors are composed of individuals committed to the mission of serving and strengthening our public colleges and universities. I will work to restore a standard of leadership that puts academic excellence, Virginia’s students, and the strength of Virginia’s public colleges and universities ahead of any political agenda.”

Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi: “The resignation of President Jim Ryan is a deeply troubling escalation in the partisan campaign against higher education—and it should alarm every Virginian who believes in academic freedom and institutional integrity. Donald Trump’s sweeping efforts against higher education have opened the floodgates for political interference in our colleges and universities. President Ryan is a widely respected leader who has expanded access, supported first-generation students, and defended the university’s core values. He was pushed out not because of performance, but because of politics. As an immigrant and first-generation American, I know how transformative higher education can be. And as an educator myself, I believe Virginia’s universities should remain public institutions dedicated to serving the people of the Commonwealth with excellence and independence—not as playgrounds for partisan agendas. As Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee and Virginia’s next Lieutenant Governor, I will continue fighting to protect opportunity and academic freedom across every corner of our Commonwealth.”

Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid: “Good riddance to him and DEI.”

Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones: “The Trump Administration’s shameful and extreme political attacks against the University of Virginia undermine the rule of law, centuries of tradition, and all that UVA contributes to our Commonwealth. Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is trying to force his MAGA agenda onto Virginia. We need an Attorney General who will stand up for Virginians first and faithfully uphold equal protection under the law — not Jason Miyares, who has made it clear he answers to Trump, not the people of Virginia. The Attorney General is the people’s lawyer — responsible for defending our public institutions, upholding the Constitution, and ensuring no one is above the law, including Donald Trump.”

Speaker of the House Don Scott: “I'm grateful to President Ryan for his leadership at UVA. He led an award winning University to raise $6 billion. The school is ranked #4 in the country, but MAGA took him out and Republicans in Virginia are cheering Trump on. It's more important than ever that we elect Spanberger and the entire Democratic ticket. We have to keep the House of Delegates because Republicans in Virginia, just like in Congress, have bowed down to Trump. If you love UVA and our excellent institutions of higher education the time is now to get involved! First it's UVA, but now all of our institutions are at risk!”

Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus: “Virginia's public higher education institutions are the envy of higher education systems across the United States of America, which is precisely why the Trump Administration seeks to micromanage them. Our universities have built reputations for academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing leaders who contribute to our Commonwealth and nation including dozens for former Supreme Court Justices, U.S. Senators, Congressmen, U.S. Attorney’s General, Governors, and other notable Americans. The Virginia Senate stands strongly in support of President Ryan and the presidents of all our public universities. We recognize their commitment to maintaining the academic integrity and educational mission that have made Virginia's institutions world-class centers of learning. We call upon all Boards of Visitors across our 14 public colleges and universities to resist any efforts by the Trump Administration to dictate how Virginia runs its own taxpayer funded schools. Our institutions of higher learning must remain focused on their educational mission, free from political interference that undermines their autonomy and academic freedom. The Senate of Virginia will be watching the Trump Administration's actions closely over the coming months. We will carefully monitor and consider any Board’s reaction to federal interference in our state's higher education governance as we evaluate the more than 60 pending nominations to Boards of Visitors across Virginia's public colleges and universities, including four at the University of Virginia, the additional vacancy created by Ken Cuccineli’s rejection, the four vacancies and George Mason University and six additional pending nominations on their sixteen member boards. Virginia has a proud tradition of educational excellence that spans centuries. We will not allow political pressure from Washington to compromise the integrity of our institutions or the leaders who have dedicated their careers to advancing higher education in the Commonwealth.”

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