House Education Committee Holds Hearing on Campus Antisemitism with Three University Leaders

The House Committee on Education and Workforce, chaired by Republican Tim Walberg, held hearings with leaders from Georgetown University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the City University of New York to address rising antisemitism on college campuses. The hearings focused on the role of faculty, funding, and ideology in fostering antisemitic sentiments, with concerns raised about groups like Students for Justice in Palestine and faculty unions allegedly promoting antisemitic activism. These hearings are part of a broader Republican effort, endorsed by President Trump, to investigate and potentially withhold funding from universities perceived as failing to protect Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests following the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The committee highlighted the proliferation of faculty groups supporting pro-Palestinian views and Middle East Studies centers accused of harboring extremist ties. Critics argue that these hearings aim to suppress speech critical of Israel rather than genuinely combat antisemitism. Despite protests subsiding, lawmakers remain vigilant about antisemitic activities on campuses, reflecting ongoing political tensions around this issue.