House Republicans Demand Documents from California Medical Schools
House Republicans are insisting that leading medical schools in California hand over internal documents as part of an inquiry into claims of anti-Semitism within their systems.
Rep. Tim Wahlberg, a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, has set a two-week deadline in his communication with both the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the UC San Francisco School of Medicine. The House is looking into how the universities addressed reports from Jewish individuals who indicated they felt “hostility and fear” while on campus.
In his letter, Wahlberg has requested “all documents and communications” associated with reports or complaints regarding anti-Semitism dating back to September 1, 2021. He has also asked for communications among staff concerning these complaints.
“The committee understands that Jewish students, faculty, and patients experience hostility and fear at the university, yet has not shown that the university has taken meaningful steps to address and alleviate this issue,” Wahlberg explained in his letter.
The correspondence to UCSF includes instances such as a Jewish student who revealed to the committee that he felt compelled to “conceal a hidden aspect of Jewish identity” during his time at the university.
In another account, a Jewish student reportedly heard someone say, “the Jews control the bank.” Additionally, a lab engineer was said to have told the same student that Israel deserved what occurred on October 7.
Wahlberg has also sent a comparable letter to the University of Illinois School of Medicine.
This House investigation is separate from previous scrutiny by the Trump administration regarding anti-Semitism claims at UCLA. President Trump’s administration had already frozen $584 million in federal grants to UCLA after the Justice Department determined that it violated the Equality Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Earlier this month, the administration sought $1 billion from UCLA to settle allegations of discrimination and anti-Semitism as a condition for the restoration of federal funding.
The proposed agreement sent to UCLA on August 8 stipulates that the university must pay $1 billion in installments, alongside establishing a $172 million claims fund for suspected Civil Rights Act violations that bar employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, President James Miliken mentioned that the university system has received the offer and is currently reviewing it. Miliken stated, “This week we expressed a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the Justice Department to safeguard the university and its crucial research mission.” He also added that the scale of payments being discussed could severely impact California’s largest public university system and harm its students.
Miliken expressed that “Americans depend on the vital work of UCLA and the UC system for life-saving technology and medical advancements, which in turn bolster the US economy and contribute to national security.”
He emphasized, “Requesting $1 billion from a major public research institution misuses tax resources and undermines the university’s mission to support students and the public.” He affirmed that UCLA and the broader UC system have made substantial efforts to combat anti-Semitism and prioritize the safety of Jewish individuals on campus.
In July, UCLA settled a lawsuit with Jewish students and faculty involving anti-Israel protests for $6 million, acknowledging prohibitive behavior towards Jewish individuals in certain areas of the campus.
UCLA, UCSF, and UICM did not immediately respond to inquiries for comments from Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
