WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued letters to 60 higher education institutions, cautioning them against Title VI violations related to antisemitic harassment and discrimination on their campuses. These warnings highlight the Department’s concern over the safety and well-being of Jewish students and signal potential enforcement actions if institutions fail to meet federal civil rights obligations.
The targeted universities, which include prominent institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford, are under investigation for alleged failures to protect Jewish students from harassment and ensure their uninterrupted access to educational opportunities and campus facilities. The OCR emphasized that ongoing antisemitic activity has significantly disrupted campus life at many of these universities.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressed disappointment in the lack of progress, stating, “University leaders must do better,” while underscoring the importance of compliance with federal antidiscrimination laws as a condition of receiving taxpayer-funded support.
The Department highlighted a recent enforcement action against Columbia University, where $400 million in federal grants and contracts were canceled due to the school’s insufficient response to antisemitism complaints. This move, part of a broader push by the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, demonstrates the federal government’s intensified efforts to tackle rising antisemitism on U.S. campuses.
The OCR’s actions align with its authority under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits institutions receiving federal funds from engaging in discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry such as Jewish heritage. Additionally, the Department’s efforts are bolstered by President Trump’s executive order aimed at addressing antisemitism.
The Department reaffirmed its commitment to holding institutions accountable, ensuring the protection of Jewish students, and resolving a backlog of complaints about antisemitic violence and harassment. The OCR’s message to universities is clear: failure to uphold federal civil rights laws will prompt serious consequences.
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