The Trump administration is moving to investigate as a prominent allegation of “immediate priorities” of anti-Semitism and violence on U.S. university campuses after cancelling about $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University.
The U.S. Department of Education's Civil Rights Office (OCR) said Friday that the Biden administration “accumulated a backlog of complaints” across the university following Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel in October 2023.
“American institutions of higher education have erupted with anti-Semitic harassment and violence that denied Jewish students equal access to learning, school activities and campus facilities,” Craig Trainer, assistant secretary for secretary at OCR, said in a statement.. “Many university and university presidents received little or no credible action, and the Biden Education Department's OCR's political leadership inexplicably accumulated a backlog of complaints. ”
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The Department of Education is working to resolve a “backlog of complaints” that includes allegations of anti-Semitism and violence during the Biden administration. (Getty Images)
“As a relatively small number of complaints have actually been resolved, previous administration aides have signed a toothless resolution agreement that has provided little or no relief to Jewish students to this day,” the trainer said. “The Trump administration will not allow anti-Semitic protesters and opponents to take over campus facilities and terrorize Jewish students and staff.”
The Trump administration's investigation into anti-Semitism allegations is in line with the president's executive order cracking down on anti-Semitism harassment against Jewish students since the Hamas-Israel conflict. As part of the order, a multi-agency task force was created to combat anti-Semitism, with Colombian grants reaching their initial goals.
Trump's Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, visited Columbia University on Friday to discuss concerns with school leaders about continuing anti-Semitism allegations on campus.
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Anti-Israel protesters demonstrated at Bernard University in February 2025. (Getty; x)
“Americans have been watching in fear for over a year as Jewish students are being attacked and harassed on elite university campuses. They have been repeatedly collapsed by anti-Semitic students and agitators. Illegal camps and demonstrations completely paralyzed daily campus operations, and Jewish students have learned the statement.
“Institutions receiving federal funds are responsible for protecting all students from discrimination. Failure to support the end of this basic agreement in Colombia raises very serious questions about the institution's fitness to continue business with the US government.”
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Anti-Israel protesters will hold demonstrations in New York City on October 5, 2024, ahead of the anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7th. (Adam Gray from Fox News Digital)
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Over the weekend, an activist who led protests and camps on Columbia University's campus for several months was arrested by US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
“We could cancel visas and green cards for Hamas supporters in the US and potentially deporting them,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a post on X.
