Education Department probes five universities for antisemitism

The Trump administration has initiated federal investigations into five universities, including Northwestern University and Columbia University, over allegations of antisemitism, amid a broader strategy to enforce accountability in higher education. This comes after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked increased campus protests and antisemitic incidents. The Department of Education's inquiries are part of a larger effort, including a Justice Department task force, to combat antisemitism on campuses, marking a stark departure from the Biden administration's approach. An executive order signed by Trump also threatens to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Universities like Northwestern have expressed their intention to cooperate, citing existing measures against antisemitism. The investigations reflect a heightened federal stance on civil rights enforcement in educational institutions.