DOJ Finds George Washington University Violates Civil Rights Over Antisemitism

The Trump administration, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), has found George Washington University (GWU) in violation of federal civil rights law for being "deliberately indifferent" to antisemitic discrimination and harassment of Jewish, American-Israeli, and Israeli students and faculty during pro-Palestinian protests in 2024. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated the university failed to address a hostile educational environment, including disruptive protests and an encampment intended to intimidate Jewish and Israeli students. The DOJ is seeking "immediate remediation" and has offered GWU a chance to resolve the matter through a voluntary resolution agreement, with a deadline to respond by August 22. This action is part of the Trump administration's broader campaign against universities it accuses of tolerating antisemitism, following similar enforcement efforts at institutions like UCLA and others. The administration has warned that failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding, emphasizing that all students must have equal educational opportunities free from harassment. GWU representatives have not publicly commented on the DOJ's findings as the enforcement process moves forward.