The University of Iowa (UI) has allegedly defied state laws banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, and the Iowa attorney general’s office is not letting it slide.

In 2024, Iowa passed a law prohibiting public funding for DEI programs, following a 2023 directive from the Iowa Board of Regents ordering universities to dismantle all public “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives. Yet, an explosive undercover video obtained by Fox News revealed Drea Tinoco, assistant director for Leadership and Student Organization Development at UI, admitting the university is “essentially finding ways to operate around [the bans].” Tinoco claimed this was their “solution.”

In the video, Tinoco doubles down, stating, “We are still doing DEI work. We’re still working with our students. I have yet to be told, like, ‘Drea, you can’t say DEI,’ and I’m still gonna say it. I don’t know if it’s just the play on the website of like, ‘Oh, okay, yeah, we took off the words,’ but we’re still doing what we do here, but we’re still doing what we need to do, what we know we have to do for students.” She even declared she was “proud of the fight” against state directives. While the video has surfaced recently, details about its filming date and Tinoco’s audience remain unclear.

The revelation has sparked swift reactions from both state and university officials. Fox reported that UI officials emphasized that any defiance “is taken seriously” and that they hold faculty to the highest standards. They also pledged to “take all necessary steps to ensure university policies and procedures as well as state and federal laws are being fully upheld.” Others, however, were more upfront.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) posted on X, “There should be full accountability at the University of Iowa after an employee admitted that she and others at the university are skirting both Iowa & federal law that ended DEI at public institutions.” She added, “This woke nonsense will not be tolerated. Schools should be educating our kids, not indoctrinating them. I will continue leading this fight for as long as it takes to rid the poison of DEI from our institutions.” Additionally, American conservative activist Christopher Rufo argued for UI’s president to be fired for “intentionally breaking the law. … We don’t have democracy if government employees can disregard the law.”

The most notable response was from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R), who issued this statement to Fox: “I’m appalled by the remarks made in this video by a University of Iowa employee who blatantly admits to defying DEI restrictions I signed into law on May 9, 2024.” She added, “I already issued a letter to the Board of Regents on January 23, 2025, reminding university representatives to comply, not only with state law, but an executive order signed by President Trump ending implementation of DEI policies at public institutions.”

Reynolds escalated the matter by filing a complaint with Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird (R), who launched a full-scale investigation into UI. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, during Wednesday’s Board of Regents meeting, both Regents members and UI officials welcomed the attorney general’s review. UI President Barbara Wilson also “assured the board the university is taking the video and allegations connected to it seriously,” noting that an internal investigation is already underway and coordination with the Board of Regents and the attorney general’s office is in progress.

Wilson stated, “This review is being conducted in accordance with our established procedures to ensure fairness, accuracy and … impartiality. If at any point we find the policies or laws have been violated, we will take the necessary corrective actions without hesitation.” Regent David Barker expressed no surprise at the allegations, calling the university’s apparent defiance “predictable” and a sign that “we as a board have more work to do.” Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates labeled the situation “unacceptable,” emphasizing, “Following the law is not optional, nor is working around the law. Any attempt to skirt the law needs to be dealt with swiftly.”

On behalf of the board, Bates asserted, “The board fully supports the attorney general’s review and will take any action needed to correct this very problematic situation.” As tensions rise, all eyes are on the investigations to see how UI will navigate this intense clash with state authorities.