Trump administration attacks higher ed over alleged anti-Semitism

On January 29, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14188—titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism”—which he said was in response to an “unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitism discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens especially in our schools and on our campuses.” On February 3, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the formation of a task force to combat anti-Semitism, with its first priority to root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses. According to the announcement, the task force will also include the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Civil Rights Division.

Pattern and practice investigation

On February 28, 2025, the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced it would be visiting 10 university campuses because it was aware of allegations that the schools may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty members from unlawful discrimination in violation of federal law. The ten universities to be investigated were: