The US Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation on Wednesday into the University of California (UC) to determine whether the public university system engaged in a pattern or practice of antisemitic discrimination against professors, staff or other employees on its campuses.
The Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism will investigate UC under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex and religion. The act allows the DOJ to initiate investigations into state and local government employers where a pattern or practice of employment discrimination may exist.
“This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nation’s universities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement.
The University of California said in a statement to various media outlets, including KTVU, it was “unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting everyone’s civil rights. We continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of harassment and discrimination for everyone in the university community.”
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) shares authority with the DOJ over state and local governments and related entities, including public universities. It will receive, investigate and conciliate EEOC charges against state and local government employers, and then refer employers charged to the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ for potential litigation.
“The EEOC is committed to partnering with the Department of Justice to stamp out the scourge of anti-Semitism on campus workplaces,” said EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas in a statement.
This investigation was announced two days after the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the US General Services Administration announced it will review Columbia University’s federal contracts and grants as the federal government investigates it for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Columbia University was the site of an encampment and various demonstrations [in April 2024](http://New York police make arrests at Columbia University after protesters occupy academic building).
Reactions to the Israel-Hamas War popped up on college campuses around the US, including UCLA, where large groups of students formed encampments and organized demonstrations that paused graduation commencement events and stalled normal campus operations in some cases for days at a time. Some Jewish employees of US colleges and universities expressed upset that such protests hindered their ability to work on campus and alleged antisemitic rhetoric made them feel harassed.
Relatedly, President Donald Trump announced additional measures to combat antisemitism in the US, including targeting college campuses on his first day in office.