Harvard, Yale among 60 colleges warned of fund cuts over antisemitism claims
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The Harvard University campus. Photo: Mel Musto/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Department of Education announced Monday it's investigating 60 colleges and universities over allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination.
The big picture: The warning comes after President Trump threatened last week to pull federal funding from colleges he accused of allowing "illegal protests" on campus.
- His administration on Friday pulled some $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, citing the school's alleged "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."
- Columbia served as the epicenter of nationwide protests last spring over Israel's handling of the war in Gaza.
Zoom in: The Education Department sent five dozen universities, including Ivy League and UC schools, warning letters Monday, saying they must fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students.
- All of the universities are under investigation for alleged Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination, according to the department.
What they're saying: "The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better," newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.
- "U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws."
Zoom out: Trump on Monday praised the arrest of a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University alumnus, saying it's the first of "many to come."
- He said, "We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it."
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