Federal Task Force Visits 10 Colleges, Addresses Anti-Semitism

The Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, established under President Trump's executive order, will visit ten universities, including Columbia, Harvard, and Northwestern, in response to recent allegations of anti-Semitic incidents on campuses following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. Led by Senior Counsel Leo Terrell, the task force aims to gather information from university leadership, affected students, and local law enforcement to assess potential violations of federal law regarding the protection of Jewish individuals on campus. Terrell emphasized the commitment of the administration to ensure that no one feels unsafe due to their religion, marking these visits as part of broader efforts to combat anti-Semitism in educational settings. The initiative comes as several of these institutions, including Northwestern and Johns Hopkins, are already under investigation by the Department of Education for similar issues. The task force's actions highlight an intensified federal focus on eradicating anti-Semitic harassment in American schools and universities.