Northwestern University Joins 5 Colleges Under Investigation by Education Department for Trump-Era Antisemitism Measures

The Trump administration has started fresh investigations into claims of antisemitism at five U.S. universities, including Northwestern University. This announcement came from the Education Department on Monday.

This move follows President Trump’s commitment to address campus antisemitism more aggressively than the previous administration. Under President Biden, many cases were resolved without significant penalties during the last days in office. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has formed a new task force dedicated to tackling antisemitism in higher education settings.

Last week, Trump issued an order calling for tough measures against anti-Jewish bias on college campuses. This includes the possibility of deporting foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.

The universities under scrutiny include:

• Columbia University, New York
• University of California, Berkeley
• Portland State University, Oregon
• The University of Minnesota
• Northwestern University

The Education Department hasn’t revealed specific details about the investigations or the criteria for selecting these schools. Last year, the presidents of Columbia and Northwestern testified on Capitol Hill regarding antisemitism, especially during protests related to Israel’s actions in Gaza. These discussions led to the resignations of several university leaders.

In response to the investigation, Northwestern University acknowledged it has been notified and pledged to cooperate fully with federal authorities. The university’s leaders emphasized their stance against antisemitism and any form of discrimination. They highlighted their dedication to fostering a safe and inclusive environment, mentioning recent updates to their Student Code of Conduct and improvements in public safety measures.

Overall, both students and university leaders are aware of the increasing focus on creating a safe educational space free from discrimination and hate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.