Trump Administration Probes California State University over Antisemitism and Racial Bias Allegations

The Trump administration has launched a comprehensive federal investigation into the California State University (CSU) system, which comprises over 20 campuses and serves more than 460,000 students, focusing on allegations of antisemitism and racial discrimination. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a system-wide antisemitism complaint against CSU and has subpoenaed personal contact information from employees at Cal State Los Angeles, a campus that hosted pro-Palestinian protests in 2024. CSU officials have stated they are cooperating fully with the investigations and have condemned antisemitism, while also expressing concerns over the privacy and academic freedom implications of the probes. Critics argue that the administration is conflating criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and support for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and extremism, raising free speech issues. Additionally, the CSU system is being investigated by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for its involvement with the PhD Project, which promotes workforce diversity. These investigations are part of a broader Trump administration effort to scrutinize and potentially withhold federal funding from universities over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests and related issues.