U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn accused Vanderbilt University Medical Center this week of "concealing" diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in a letter to VUMC President Jeffrey Balser. Blackburn cites a January executive order from President Donald Trump demanding that entities receiving federal funding end such programs. The health care giant insists that it has eliminated all DEI programs in compliance with Trump’s order.
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Blackburn’s accusations directly correspond with a Fox News report published March 18, itself based on an anti-DEI campaign by nonprofit Consumers’ Research. All accusations relate to information on VUMC webpages. The spat continues an ongoing fixation on VUMC by conservative media ignited in large part by far-right podcaster Matt Walsh in September 2022 over gender-related care provided by the hospital. Blackburn cites the incident in her letter.
According to a press release from the Tennessee Republican leader’s office, VUMC recently scrubbed its website of references to DEI initiatives at the institution despite the center’s Office of Health Equity, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Office for Diversity Affairs being “seemingly still active.” Fox News includes screenshots that claim to show password-protected VUMC webpages related to DEI.
The VUMC health care system legally separated from Vanderbilt University in 2016 but remains closely tied to the university, particularly its medical school. The federal government funded $66 million in research at VUMC via the National Institute of Health this fiscal year, Blackburn says — money that comes with a “responsibility to align with the President’s executive orders.”
The medical center insists that it is in full compliance with the White House.
“Vanderbilt University Medical Center is eliminating all DEI programs and is fully complying with Executive Actions on DEI,” reads a statement from John Howser, chief communications officer at VUMC. “Shortly after the Executive Orders were issued, VUMC began removing related content on internal and external websites to reflect the termination of these programs. VUMC will continue to comply with federal mandates and directives.”
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Blackburn’s accusations fuel an ongoing panic among institutions reliant on federal funding. Since Trump’s return to the White House, Republicans have targeted universities and other federal grant recipients to either comply with conservative positions on cultural issues or jeopardize precious operating dollars. Nashville recently sued the Trump administration over $14 million after being “ghosted” over promised grant money. Weeks ago, VUMC acknowledged an internal hiring freeze as it prepares for an expected $250 million in lost federal dollars.
While Trump and other Republicans have made ideological war against many of the nation’s top universities, Blackburn praised Vanderbilt University itself as recently as last week when she appeared onstage as a featured speaker at the school’s Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. The same week, Vanderbilt researchers rallied against funding cuts by the White House.
