The Board of Regents for the Universities of Wisconsin voted unanimously on Tuesday to fire system President Jay Rothman, ending his nearly four-year tenure amid a secretive process that has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers.

Rothman, who took the helm in June 2022 after serving as chair and CEO of the Milwaukee-based law firm Foley & Lardner, refused an ultimatum from the regents last week to either announce his resignation by the end of 2026, step down with 120 days' notice, or face termination. In letters to the board, he expressed shock, citing a recent "overwhelmingly positive" performance review and the lack of any specific reasons for their loss of confidence. "I was blindsided," Rothman told the Associated Press after the vote.

The regents held most of their meeting in closed session and provided no detailed explanation for the decision, stating only that the system requires "a clear vision" for the future amid changes in higher education. Rothman's contract allows for termination without cause or appeal rights, and he earns $600,943 annually.

Republican leaders quickly condemned the move as politically motivated. State Senate President Patrick Testin called it a "blatant partisan hatchet job," claiming Rothman was ousted for "not being liberal enough" and for his willingness to collaborate across the aisle. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos praised Rothman's budget negotiations with the GOP-controlled Legislature. GOP senators threatened to block confirmation of unconfirmed regent appointees by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The controversy traces back to Rothman's 2023 deal with Republican legislators, which froze diversity, equity, and inclusion hires and created a UW-Madison position focused on conservative thought in exchange for funding employee raises and construction projects. The agreement, initially rejected by the regents, was later approved but angered Democrats and faculty who viewed it as concessions to conservatives.

During Rothman's leadership, the 165,000-student system maintained steady enrollment despite closing eight branch campuses, lobbied for increased state aid amid federal cuts, and addressed free speech issues related to pro-Palestinian protests. The board now faces the task of finding a successor as it also searches for a new chancellor at the flagship UW-Madison campus.

Testin and others demanded transparency from the regents, who are largely Evers appointees, warning of potential legislative retaliation over the system's budget. Rothman declined further comment post-vote, leaving questions about his next steps unresolved.