(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has asked Iowa’s attorney general to investigate a University of Iowa employee’s videotaped comments about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. Reynolds says she is appalled by the remarks made in the undercover video, which aired on Fox News Tuesday. The governor says the University of Iowa employee blatantly admits to defying the anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion law she signed in 2024. The law not only closed down D-E-I offices at the three state universities, but it banned any effort to promote programming or activities that refer to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Reynolds says the video indicates the University of Iowa is maintaining a D-E-I office.

In the video, the University of Iowa employee suggests staff on campus are using the phrase “civic engagement” rather than D-E-I, but the women says she still says Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in her classes. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says Regents universities must comply with state laws AND President Trump’s executive order on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program — and her office has opened an investigation.

The board that governs the three state universities is meeting today (Wednesday) and University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson will be making a statement about the video at the meeting.