Iowa officials are taking action after a video surfaced, appearing to show a University of Iowa employee discussing how the staff skirts new laws regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.The video was published online by Fox News.Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds sent an official complaint to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.”The video contains statements by state employees which display a blatant disregard for the law and the will of the Legislature — that simply should not be tolerated,” Reynolds’ complaint reads.Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird confirmed her office has opened an investigation.“Regent universities must comply with our state laws, including the Iowa Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) Act — Iowa Code Chapter 261J, Iowa Code Chapter 19, and also an Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 22, 2025,” a statement from Bird’s office reads. “We have received the Governor’s complaint against the University of Iowa and have opened an investigation.”The video came up in conversation Wednesday, during the Iowa Board of Regents meeting. “This is unacceptable,” said Sherry Bates, the president of the Iowa Board of Regents. “Following the law is not optional, nor is working around the law.” The law referenced is one Reynolds signed last year that went into effect July 1, 2025. Part of the law bans DEI offices and programs at Iowa’s public universities. “I want to assure you that the University of Iowa takes these allegations with the utmost seriousness,” said Barbara Wilson, the president of the University of Iowa, during the Iowa Board of Regents meeting. Iowa Republican House Representative Taylor Collins says he shares the governor’s anger and concern and is looking forward to the AG’s investigation. “For folks that are violating the state law — who are working under the taxpayer’s dime–those folks need to be held accountable,” said Collins. “Those folks need to be fired.” Collins says when it comes to complying with the law, he believes Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have been doing well and that he’s seen a lot of “willingness to comply.”He says the University of Iowa needs to take action. “They need to act. They ultimately have to and make a clear direction from the top that this is no longer going to be tolerated,” said Collins. Iowa Democrat House Representative Rob Johnson says the interaction in the edited video didn’t seem like someone was trying to skirt around the law. “Even after watching the video, it felt like somebody was really trying their best to stick up for people,” said Johnson. “DEI isn’t about black and white. It’s about how we approach each other and how we love on one another.” Johnson also told KCCI that he feels the law is bad. “We have to make sure that we’re looking at diversity because if we do not, then we’re going to miss out on opportunities of looking at other people’s religion, looking at other people’s faith, and looking at other people’s opportunity to get the medicine that they may even need,” said Johnson. During the Iowa Board of Regents meeting, UI President Wilson did share that the university has reached out to the board office and the Iowa Attorney General’s office to coordinate efforts in the investigation. “If at any point we find the policies or laws have been violated, we will take the necessary corrective actions without hesitation,” said Wilson. » Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
Iowa officials are taking action after a video surfaced, appearing to show a University of Iowa employee discussing how the staff skirts new laws regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
The video was published online by Fox News.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds sent an official complaint to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
“The video contains statements by state employees which display a blatant disregard for the law and the will of the Legislature — that simply should not be tolerated,” Reynolds’ complaint reads.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird confirmed her office has opened an investigation.
“Regent universities must comply with our state laws, including the Iowa Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) Act — Iowa Code Chapter 261J, Iowa Code Chapter 19, and also an Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 22, 2025,” a statement from Bird’s office reads. “We have received the Governor’s complaint against the University of Iowa and have opened an investigation.”
The video came up in conversation Wednesday, during the Iowa Board of Regents meeting.
“This is unacceptable,” said Sherry Bates, the president of the Iowa Board of Regents. “Following the law is not optional, nor is working around the law.”
The law referenced is one Reynolds signed last year that went into effect July 1, 2025. Part of the law bans DEI offices and programs at Iowa’s public universities.
“I want to assure you that the University of Iowa takes these allegations with the utmost seriousness,” said Barbara Wilson, the president of the University of Iowa, during the Iowa Board of Regents meeting.
Iowa Republican House Representative Taylor Collins says he shares the governor’s anger and concern and is looking forward to the AG’s investigation.
“For folks that are violating the state law — who are working under the taxpayer’s dime–those folks need to be held accountable,” said Collins. “Those folks need to be fired.”
Collins says when it comes to complying with the law, he believes Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have been doing well and that he’s seen a lot of “willingness to comply.”
He says the University of Iowa needs to take action.
“They need to act. They ultimately have to and make a clear direction from the top that this is no longer going to be tolerated,” said Collins.
Iowa Democrat House Representative Rob Johnson says the interaction in the edited video didn’t seem like someone was trying to skirt around the law.
“Even after watching the video, it felt like somebody was really trying their best to stick up for people,” said Johnson. “DEI isn’t about black and white. It’s about how we approach each other and how we love on one another.”
Johnson also told KCCI that he feels the law is bad.
“We have to make sure that we’re looking at diversity because if we do not, then we’re going to miss out on opportunities of looking at other people’s religion, looking at other people’s faith, and looking at other people’s opportunity to get the medicine that they may even need,” said Johnson.
During the Iowa Board of Regents meeting, UI President Wilson did share that the university has reached out to the board office and the Iowa Attorney General’s office to coordinate efforts in the investigation.
“If at any point we find the policies or laws have been violated, we will take the necessary corrective actions without hesitation,” said Wilson.
» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play