Education Department says 60 universities under investigation for antisemitism

The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is investigating 60 universities for antisemitism, according to letters sent on Monday.

The department said the 60 institutions are receiving warnings due to allegedly not complying with Title IX obligations to protect Jewish students.

“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

“U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws,” she added.

The list includes Ivy League schools such as Harvard University and smaller schools such as Middlebury College.

The letters come after the federal government cut off $400 million in funding to Columbia University over alleged inaction in handling antisemitism complaints and OCR announced prioritization in addressing the backlog of antisemitism allegations at schools with its office.

The action also comes days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a Columbia University graduate student with a green card who led pro-Palestinian protests.

The escalation in investigations and threats has had some effect on schools.

Harvard University said Monday it was implementing a hiring freeze due to uncertainties around federal policy and funding concerns, and the University of California, Los Angeles announced it is starting a new initiative to combat antisemitism on campus.

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