What last week’s resignation of University of Virginia President Jim Ryan wasn’t was an assault on academia and the independence of America’s universities as the media and Democrat elected officials are claiming. What it is is a serious opportunity to talk about federalism and real academic independence.

First, the details. The U.S. Department of Justice was investigating allegations made by UVA alumni that Thomas Jefferson’s university had not, in fact, complied with the U.S. Department of Education directive to eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in accordance with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning such policies. Noncompliance meant risking Department of Education and other federal funding. According to the university’s finance page, that funding is 12.1% of its budget.

It appears that U.S. Assistant Attorney General (and UVA alum who went to law school with Ryan) Harmeet Dhillon had found sufficient proof that the school had not complied and offered the university board a choice: Ryan or the money.

If you ask Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., it was “driven by a very, very disturbing agenda and a direct attack on public education, and when........

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