Three civil rights offices in the Trump administration are investigating college campuses across the U.S. over their handling of anti-Israel protests and alleged antisemitism.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) first announced the effort Monday as part of a new “Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism” that will “root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses,” a press release says. The Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) then announced it would probe five universities and four unnamed medical schools on behalf of the task force.
“Too many universities have tolerated widespread antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that paralyzed campus life last year, driving Jewish life and religious expression underground,” DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a press release. “The Biden Administration’s toothless resolution agreements did shamefully little to hold those institutions accountable.”
“This administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses, nor will it stand by idly if universities fail to combat Jew hatred and the unlawful harassment and violence it animates,” Trainor said.
The DOE said it will investigate Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, The University of California, Berkeley and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. The HHS’s announcement mentioned “four medical schools” that saw “antisemitic incidents during their 2024 commencement ceremonies.”
The HHS did not immediately respond to an inquiry about what medical schools it is targeting.
Columbia University referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to an online statement saying it is “reviewing the communication from” the DOE.
“Columbia strongly condemns antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we are resolute that calling for, promoting, or glorifying violence or terror has no place at our University,” the university’s Monday statement reads. “Since assuming her role in August, Interim President Armstrong and her leadership team have taken decisive actions to address issues of antisemitism, including by strengthening and clarifying our disciplinary processes.”
Columbia’s previous president, Minouche Shafik, resigned in August after criticism over persistent anti-Israel rioting on campus.
In addition to taking over a university building, activists formed human blockades against Jewish students on the campus and praised Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre of Israelis. “Seventh of October is going to be every day for you,” one protester said, the Jerusalem Post reported.
“We look forward to ongoing work with the new federal administration to combat antisemitism and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff,” Columbia said Monday.
The University of Minnesota told the DCNF it “received notice of this investigation” and “will be reviewing the details in the days ahead.”
“We are confident in our approach to combating hate and bias on our campus and will fully cooperate with this investigation,” the school’s media team said. “We have and will continue to respond promptly and fully to any reports of harassment, intimidation, or bias against Jewish students — or any other members of our University community — in accordance with our University values, our own policies, and our responsibility under the law.”
Northwestern University told the DCNF it will “fully comply with federal investigators as we have with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce over the past year.”
“Free expression and academic freedom are among our core values, but we have made clear that these values provide no excuse for behavior that threatens the well-being of others,” a spokesperson said. “We are confident in the actions we have taken to address antisemitism on our campus, including updating our Student Code of Conduct, our disciplinary procedures and making investments in public safety.”
Portland State University also said it “will cooperate fully” with the DOE and that “we take these concerns seriously.”
A PSU spokesperson said the DOE’s announcement”is not in itself evidence of any violation” because it “is not based on a specific complaint from an individual, but instead is prompted by the [Trump] administration.”
“The university continues to support and engage with efforts to combat antisemitism and mitigate the impact of hate and bias,” the spokesperson said.
Lastly, UC Berkeley told the DCNF it “will readily comply and cooperate with any requests for documents or information that may arise from the investigation that has been announced.”
The university pointed to programs such as its “Antisemitism Education Initiative” to demonstrate its concern for the issue.
“UC Berkeley has an unwavering commitment to confronting antisemitism as part of our support for a campus community where all can feel safe, respected, and welcome regardless of their origins, identities, beliefs, or perspectives,” a spokesperson said.
Federal officials formed the task force in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order on “post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism” that required agencies to submit reports to the president on how to take action against the “unacceptable” trend.
The administration has signaled it will deport “Hamas sympathizers on college campuses” with foreign visas, drawing outrage from anti-Israel activists. The HHS’s press release included “alleged expressions of support for terrorist organizations” among the conduct it seeks to address.
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