In 2019, Falwell Jr. was accused of using the university for his family's financial benefit. Staff members have described that the university has funneled tuition money into real estate investments that benefit friends and family of the Falwells, including a shopping mall, owned by the university and managed by Falwell's son Trey, who serves as a Vice President at the university. Falwell responded to the accusations by asserting that the FBI would investigate a "criminal conspiracy" in which individuals stole university property and shared it with reporters in an effort to damage his reputation.