Revealed: Inside Trump's Explosive Plan That Has Ivy League Leaders Scrambling

The Education Department’s announcement on Monday came alongside a new task force established by the Justice Department to address antisemitism in higher education.

The investigations focus on five universities: Columbia, Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University. Unlike previous inquiries triggered by complaints, these investigations were launched by the Department of Education itself using its civil rights authority. The Education Department expressed concern over the rise of antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, including a wave of pro-Palestinian protests on campuses.

In a statement, the Education Department criticized the institutions for tolerating antisemitism, accusing the Biden administration of striking “toothless” deals that failed to hold schools accountable. Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, emphasized that this administration will no longer tolerate institutions ignoring the well-being of Jewish students.

The investigations are particularly notable after tense hearings in Congress last year, where university presidents, including Columbia’s Minouche Shafik and Northwestern’s Morty Schapiro, were called to testify regarding their handling of antisemitism during protests. These hearings resulted in the resignation of some university leaders. The report from House Republicans in October accused Columbia of failing to act against pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building and criticized Northwestern’s response to student protests.

While the universities involved have taken steps to address antisemitism, including updating their codes of conduct and bolstering public safety, these actions have not been enough to avoid federal scrutiny. Portland State University, for example, was surprised by the investigation, which was initiated without a formal complaint. However, the university has pledged to cooperate with the Education Department’s review.

The new investigations have been applauded by Republicans in Congress, with Rep. Tim Walberg calling it a much-needed step to protect Jewish students. However, the actions have drawn criticism from civil rights groups, who argue that they could infringe on First Amendment rights related to political speech.

This initiative aligns with President Trump’s broader commitment to combat antisemitism, which includes a review of all related complaints filed with the Education Department since the October 7 attack.