By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government on Thursday announced probes into hiring practices and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives by the state of Minnesota and Virginia’s George Mason University.

It was the latest crackdown on such programs by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The U.S. Education Department said it opened an investigation into George Mason University over its DEI practices. The department alleges that they violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars racial discrimination in U.S. education programs that receive federal funding.

The U.S. Justice Department said its civil rights division opened an investigation into Minnesota, including the Minnesota Department of Human Services, to determine whether it has engaged in race- and sex-based discrimination in its state employment hiring practices.

George Mason University said it received a department letter on Thursday morning and would “work in good faith to give a full and prompt response,” adding it did not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.

The Education Department statement cited a complaint from some professors at the university.

“According to the complaint, GMU leadership have promoted and adopted unlawful DEI policies from 2020 through the present, which give preferential treatment to prospective and current faculty from ‘underrepresented groups’ to advance ‘anti-racism,’” the department said in its statement.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services said it followed all state and federal hiring laws. “Justification of non-affirmative action hires for some vacancies has been required by state law since 1987,” it said in a statement.

The Trump administration has threatened educational institutions and some U.S. states with federal funding cuts over DEI practices, climate initiatives, transgender policies and pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel’s military assault on Gaza.

Trump has signed multiple executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity initiatives, and has cast DEI as anti-merit and discriminatory against white people and men.

Civil rights advocates say DEI practices help address historic inequities for marginalized groups like women, the LGBT community and ethnic minorities.

Separately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Thursday it would no longer consider a farmer’s race or sex in many of its farm loan, commodity and conservation programs, ending a longstanding effort to address the agency’s history of discrimination.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio)

12 days until the rookies and quarterbacks report!

The Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 training camp will begin with rookies and quarterbacks reporting on July 20th, followed by the rest of the team on July 22nd. The first open practice to the public will be on Saturday, July 26th. Practices will be held at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota.

Key Dates:

July 20: Rookies and quarterbacks report.

July 22: Veteran players report.

July 26: First public practice, part of “Back Together Weekend”.

July 28 – August 6: Multiple open practices scheduled.

August 9: First Preseason Game vs Texans

August 11 & 13: Additional open practices, with August 13th being a joint practice with the Patriots.

The Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 training camp Schedule

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2025 NFL offensive line rankings: Eagles, Broncos open the season at the top

7. Minnesota Vikings

Although Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill formed a top-notch tackle duo over the past couple of seasons, the Vikings’ interior held back the unit, and the offense overall.

Minnesota will feature three new starters along the interior in 2025, looking to turn a weakness into a strength. Center Ryan Kelly just turned 32 and is still among the best players at his position when healthy. Right guard Will Fries was on his way to a breakout season in 2024 before an injury ended his year after five games. Rookie Donovan Jackson, whom the Vikings drafted in the first round, completes the pack.

2025 NFL secondary rankings: Ravens and Chiefs take the top spots

27. Minnesota Vikings

This is an aging secondary that benefits from a defensive scheme designed to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Safety Harrison Smith still plays quality football, though his prime years are behind him. Josh Metellus is an average safety but reliable against the run. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is coming off a career year, but it’s unclear whether he’s finally hitting his stride or if it was a one-year spike in performance. The Vikings added several defensive backs in free agency — Isaiah Rodgers, Tavierre Thomas and Jeff Okudah — but they will likely need the front seven to continue generating heavy pressure for the secondary to succeed.

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Note: The only one over 30 is Smith thus the opening sentence reveals ignorance

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Vikings Predicted to Part With Their ‘Best-Kept Secret’

But, there’s one player who has been called the Vikings “best-kept secret” who they may opt to part with coming up. That could certainly hurt, but a team has to do what a team has to do.

That guy is Jalen Nailor, who Miller notes “has slowly improved his performance over the last three years, but 2025 has become a pivotal one for the 26-year-old receiver.”

“This season will be important for Nailor in many ways, as it could be his last in the purple and white uniforms,” he adds.

So, what’s the state of Nailor’s contract? During an appearance on SKOR North’s “Minnesota Sports with Mackey & Judd” on Thursday, July 3, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson discussed how Minnesota is dealing with Nailor’s situation right now. He said that they aren’t talking about a contract extension right now, but he will be still be a big part of the upcoming season.

“On Jalen Nailor, there just hasn’t been any dialogue. Not that the Vikings are like ‘we drafted Felton. Guess what? Like Nailor, you are the No. 4 receiver,’” he said. “I think Nailor is going to have some good opportunities this year, but I think the idea is he’ll get paid pretty well elsewhere.”

He added, “Think about Patrick Jones. Good year for the Vikings, gets paid in Carolina. I think with Jalen Nailor, hopefully in his case, Speedy can stay healthy, contribute to the Vikings winning this year, and he ends up elsewhere next March.”

Back in May, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder called Nailor is the Vikings’ “best-kept secret.”

“Nailor quietly proved to be a quality WR3 and fourth option in the passing game last season,” Holder stated on May 19. “If the 2022 sixth-round pick can cut down on the drops–four last season, per PFF–he can carve out an even bigger role in Minnesota this fall.”

Kirk Cousins felt ‘misled’ by Falcons: ‘I had no reason to leave Minnesota’

Kirk Cousins never would’ve left the Minnesota Vikings — even if he knew they were aiming for a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft — had he known the Atlanta Falcons were going to take a quarterback in the draft.

“At the time it felt like I had been a little bit misled or certainly if I had the information around free agency it certainly would’ve affected my decision,” said Cousins, whose feelings were revealed with the release of Quarterback on Netflix.

“I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there, if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high. But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.”

It’s long been known that Cousins signed with Atlanta for the long-term extension, whereas he was looking at a year-to-year situation in Minnesota. He reiterated that the year-to-year offer from the Vikings is what made his decision to go to Atlanta rather easy.

“It became clear that we were going to be there year-to-year — and that’s what we didn’t want,” Cousins said. “At that point, we said, ‘Alright, we need to look elsewhere and if that’s our only option, we’ll be back.’ And when we said, ‘Well, we looked around and we found there’s an opportunity that would be a longer commitment, would you be interested in giving us that longer commitment?’ They said, ‘Nope. We’re good with our offer.’ I said, ‘OK, you made my decision really easy.’”

Cousins’ first experience watching the Vikings as an outsider came during the preseason. He compared it to “seeing someone dating the person you used to date.”

“Like, I used to throw to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson and now someone else is enjoying doing that. That’s interesting,” Cousins joked.

Who would be on the Minnesota Vikings Mt. Rushmore this quarter century?

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/minnesota-vikings-mt-rushmore-quarter-140134317.html

DE Jared Allen

RB Adrian Peterson

S Harrison Smith

DT Kevin Williams

Note: Hard to leave Randy Moss off this list. Does JJ belong?

Minnesota Vikings Latest Valuation is Astonishing

Mark, Zygi, and Leonard Wilf bought the Minnesota Vikings in 2005 from then owner, Red McCombs, for a cool $600 million. Exactly 20 years later, longtime local columnist Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) is reporting that the Vikings are now worth 11x what the Wilfs originally purchased them for.

“No doubt if the Wilf family, which bought the Vikings for $600 million in 2005, put the Vikings on the market today, they would receive a minimum of $8 billion.”

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

The latest valuation equates to growth of more than 1,130% what the team was purchased for. Of course the Wilf’s aren’t done investing either. The TCO Performance Center and surrounding area at Vikings Lakes continues to be expanded upon and has room for additional opportunity.

NFL executive states the obvious about Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones and it could define his 2025 season

Latest Vikings Rumors: Eye-Popping Trade Idea and 2 Notable Names

Yore “I’m bored and need to think of something to write about” piece

Vikings Blockbuster Trade Idea Flips Jefferson for $115 Million WR, Starting CB, Draft Haul

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports authored a trade pitch on Monday, July 7, which he described as “outlandish” but also contended is the most likely sort of deal in which Minnesota might decide to move the superstar wideout — and to which Jefferson would also agree.

The bones of the deal would see the Vikings move on from Jefferson for Bengals receiver Tee Higgins and his recent $115 million contract, Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II, a future first-round pick from Cincinnati and a future third-round selection from the Detroit Lions.

The Bengals would receive Jefferson from Minnesota and defensive end Julian Okwara from the Browns. Detroit would end up with All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson from Cincinnati, while Cleveland would get a fourth-round pick from Detroit for Newsome, who is entering the fifth-year team option on his rookie deal after the Browns made him a first-round selection in 2021 (No. 26 overall).

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