U.S. Cracks Down on Campus Anti-Semitism: Federal Task Force Targets Universities as Jew Hatred Surges

U.S. Cracks Down on Campus Anti-Semitism: Federal Task Force Targets Universities as Jew Hatred Surges

Edited by: Fern Sidman

This week, the United States government took significant steps at the federal level to combat anti-Semitism, particularly in response to disturbing incidents at universities across the country. As reported by The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning that institutions allowing “illegal” anti-Israel protests—many of which include anti-Semitic harassment and glorification of terrorism—could face federal funding cuts.

In addition to the White House’s firm stance, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), convened a hearing titled “Never To Be Silent: Stemming the Tide of Anti-Semitism in America.” According to The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement, one of the key testimonies came from Alyza Lewin, President of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, who emphasized the growing climate of hostility that Jewish students face on college campuses nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice’s Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism took decisive action, announcing it would visit ten universities deemed of “particular concern” as part of ongoing investigations into anti-Semitic incidents. The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement underscored that such actions come at a critical moment, as data shows anti-Semitism on college campuses continues to rise at an alarming rate.

The urgency of these federal interventions was highlighted by a string of troubling anti-Semitic incidents reported at universities across the country. The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement detailed some of the most egregious cases from this week alone:

Barnard College: Protesters stormed and occupied a campus library, distributing flyers from the “Hamas Media Office” that promoted the terror group’s narrative about the October 7th massacre—referred to by Hamas as “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.”

Yale University: A Yale Law School researcher was placed on administrative leave after it was revealed that she was a member of Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, an organization sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for fundraising on behalf of the PFLP terrorist group.

University of Florida: A student who made anti-Semitic threats against a peer was arrested and charged with aggravated stalking after engaging in repeated harassment.

Harvard University: A Harvard employee was caught tearing down posters featuring Ariel and Kfir Bibas, two young Israeli brothers who were abducted by Hamas on October 7th and later murdered in Gaza.

According to The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement, university campuses were the epicenter of anti-Semitic incidents this week. A staggering 29.5%—or nearly 1 in 3—of all anti-Semitic acts documented globally occurred on college or university campuses.

In light of these alarming developments, The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement emphasized the importance of federal intervention to ensure that universities remain safe spaces for Jewish students. The Biden administration, through the Department of Justice, is actively monitoring and investigating universities where anti-Semitism has taken root.

Additionally, President Trump’s warning about potential federal funding cuts puts pressure on academic institutions to enforce policies that protect Jewish students and clamp down on illegal activity disguised as political protest.

The testimonies at the Senate Committee hearing also underscored the pressing need for universities to hold students, faculty, and outside agitators accountable for inciting violence and harassment against Jewish students. As The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement has repeatedly stressed, unchecked anti-Semitism on campuses not only threatens Jewish students but undermines the integrity of academic institutions as spaces of inclusivity and learning.

With anti-Semitic hate crimes and harassment surging in higher education, the actions taken this week by federal agencies, lawmakers, and the White House signal a turning point in how the U.S. government addresses anti-Semitism. According to The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement, continued vigilance is necessary to ensure that universities do not become breeding grounds for extremism and that Jewish students feel safe and protected in academic environments.

As investigations move forward and pressure mounts on universities to act, The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement will continue to track these developments and advocate for concrete measures to combat the rising tide of Jew-hatred in the United States.