Department of Education’s Scrutiny on Antisemitism in Universities

The New Department of Education Under the Trump Administration

Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and the University of California, Berkeley. What do these institutions have in common? They are fighting to prove to the federal government their commitment to an environment free of discrimination and harassment.

On February 3rd, 2025, the United States Department of Education launched investigations into these five institutions for alleged antisemitic harassment. These warnings came after President Trump signed an executive order titled, “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism” which reinforced Executive Order 13899 signed in 2019 under Trump’s first term to protect American Jews through relevant civil rights laws. This executive order placed increased scrutiny on schools across the country to properly monitor, enforce, and punish students who were engaging in discriminatory actions. Tensions between Hamas and Israeli forces went on for decades before Hamas retaliated on October 7th, 2023, beginning the war in Gaza. As this dispute was ongoing, discrimination against American Jews became a pressing concern for many as protests raged on in college campuses across the country.

Considering these developments, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) under the Department of Education, has utilized Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which protects students from discrimination based on “race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance” as a basis for their investigation into these universities.

Higher Education’s Response to Continued Pressure

These investigations have been expedited as the Department of Education has been working with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to interrogate administrators. For example, the Justice Department’s newly created Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is dedicated to “root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses”. While allegedly responding to antisemitism on campuses, these investigations have also emphasized the need to revoke the visas of international students who have been involved in protests being labeled as “Hamas Sympathizers”. 

These attempts to prevent antisemitism seem to emphasize a certain choice of language rather than utilizing language focused on preventing discrimination as one press released by the Education and the Workforce Committee states, “antisemitism engulfed college campuses while administrators put the wants of terrorist sympathizers over the safety of Jewish students, faculty, and staff.” All of these steps have been taken without any details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted.

UC Berkeley has remained strong amid the inquiry by reiterating their “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”. 

Columbia University established an Office of Institutional Equity in an effort to bolster the Public Safety Office to mitigate discrimination and harassment. Columbia clarified their discipline process with the statement saying, “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”.

Portland State, Northwestern, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, have all decided to cooperate with the Department of Education and even strengthen their policies regarding discrimination. However, this sudden process of investigation has been criticized by civil rights groups who have argued that it violated the First Amendment right to protect political speech. 

Free Speech of Students and the Future of Higher Education

Since these investigations began, efforts to combat antisemitism have ramped up as the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has sent letters to 55 other universities warning them of potential consequences if they do not protect Jewish students on campus. Some of the most notable universities include Stanford, Harvard, Yale, University of Virginia, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, and many more across the country. 

While some may argue that these restrictions imposed by the federal government go against the free speech of students, it is an even greater threat to the future of higher education. Columbia University’s 400 million dollar grants and contracts were canceled after it was targeted for failing to protect Jewish students as peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations continued.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia’s student protest movement was also arrested by federal immigration officers questioning the legitimacy of this initiative to only “stop antisemitism”. Even though the Department of Education continues to get reduced in size, there seems to be a continued attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within higher education as another investigation was launched in early March of 2025 on the University of California system’s supposed antisemitism to staff and students. 

As the Trump administration moves forward with its efforts to thwart the political freedom of speech of students and diversity in higher education, it remains crucial that students, faculty, and civil rights organizations work together to keep agencies accountable. While anti-semitism in universities goes directly against the values of a discrimination and harassment-free environment, students need to send a clear message that freedom of speech can coexist with a campus free of antisemitism.

Image Source: NPR