In a strong response to the rising wave of anti-Semitic incidents, the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism has announced plans to visit 10 university campuses that have seen troubling acts of anti-Jewish hatred since October 2023. The Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that the task force will engage with university leadership, affected students, staff, local law enforcement, and community members to determine if further action is necessary in response to these incidents.
Leo Terrell, a key member of the task force and senior counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, reached out to the 10 universities to inform them of these upcoming visits. These institutions include some of the most prominent in the country: Columbia University, George Washington University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northwestern University, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), the University of Minnesota, and the University of Southern California (USC).
As Terrell stated, “The President, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and the entire Administration are committed to ensuring that no one should feel unsafe or unwelcome on campus because of their religion.” The federal government is sending a strong message that it will use every tool at its disposal to eliminate anti-Semitism, particularly in educational institutions. “These visits are just one of many steps this Administration is taking to deliver on that commitment,” he added.
The task force was established as part of President Trump’s executive order to combat anti-Semitism, with its top priority being the eradication of anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses. Since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, incidents of anti-Semitism have spiked across the U.S., particularly in higher education. The surge in these attacks has prompted Republican lawmakers to launch a year-long investigation, hold hearings, and demand accountability, which has already led to the resignation of at least two university presidents. Furthermore, the Department of Education has launched investigations into five universities for their failure to address anti-Semitic activities on their campuses.
The Biden administration and federal law enforcement are clearly taking this issue seriously, working tirelessly to ensure that every student—regardless of their faith—feels safe and supported in their educational environment. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the rise in anti-Semitism threatens the fundamental principles of freedom and tolerance that define American society.