The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities, including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, as announced by the Education Department on Monday.
This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s commitment to adopt a tougher stance against campus antisemitism, seeking to impose harsher penalties compared to the Biden administration, which settled numerous cases with universities in its final weeks. The announcement coincides with the Justice Department’s formation of a new task force aimed at combating antisemitism on college campuses.
In an order signed last week, Trump called for assertive measures to address anti-Jewish bias on campuses, which includes the potential deportation of foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
Besides Columbia and Berkeley, the investigation has extended to the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University. These cases were initiated through the department’s authority to conduct its own civil rights reviews, as opposed to the majority of investigations triggered by complaints.
Messages seeking comments were directed to all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for their perceived tolerance of antisemitism following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked a series of pro-Palestinian protests. It also condemned the Biden administration for negotiating what it termed “toothless” resolutions that did not hold schools accountable.
“Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses,” stated Craig Trainor, the agency’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
Details regarding the inquiries or the selection process for targeted schools were not provided by the department. University presidents from Columbia and Northwestern were summoned to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for antisemitism allegations. These hearings led to the resignation of several university presidents, including Minouche Shafik of Columbia.
An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to discipline pro-Palestinian students who occupied a campus building and labeled Northwestern’s negotiations with student protesters a “stunning capitulation.”
House Republicans welcomed the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, expressed satisfaction that “we finally have an administration that is taking action to protect Jewish students.”
Trump’s order also mandates a comprehensive review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since October 7, 2023, encompassing both pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to enforce civil rights laws effectively.
The order issued last week received backlash from civil rights groups who argued it infringed upon First Amendment rights that safeguard political speech.
The new task force announced on Monday comprises the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.
“The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found,” remarked Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. “The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump’s renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools.”
