As US Congress intensifies its scrutiny of antisemitism on college campuses in the United States, House Republicans on Tuesday signalled that universities could face severe consequences — including loss of federal funds — if they fail to curb what lawmakers are calling “hatred and harassment” targeting Jewish students, the Washington Post reported.
At a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s high-stakes hearing by the House Education Committee, GOP leaders expressed frustration with what they see as inaction from university administrators. “If these students don’t feel safe,” said Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), “maybe the university endowments shouldn’t feel safe.”
The committee’s hearing, titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses,” follows months of protests over the Israel-Gaza war and rising concerns about student safety. This latest round of testimony will include presidents from Haverford College, DePaul University, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. It comes after the Trump administration froze hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding and launched investigations into dozens of schools, including Northwestern University.
A polarised campus climate
The hearing follows disturbing reports from students like Northwestern junior Jake Lubin, who described being attacked for expressing support for Israel at a protest last year. He and other students spent two days on Capitol Hill this week urging lawmakers to take action — but also cautioning against policies that harm legitimate research and academic freedom.
“I don’t support cutting funds to what I see as really valuable research,” Lubin said, adding that dialogue — not division — is what’s needed.
Still, several House Republicans insisted that universities must be held accountable. Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) said antisemitism on campus today echoes the racism of the 1960s and called it “a public safety issue.” He urged cutting all federal funding to schools that “allow this chaos to continue.”
Protest and backlash
As lawmakers spoke inside the Rayburn House Office Building, pro-Palestinian protesters outside held up pita bread and chanted, “The children of Gaza deserve to be fed!” and “It is not antisemitic to say that!” Others heckled, shouting “Go to Hamas!” as Capitol Police separated opposing groups.
The contentious atmosphere reflects broader tensions: how to confront antisemitism without undermining freedom of speech and protest. Jewish advocacy groups like the American Jewish Committee joined with higher education organisations on Tuesday to warn the Trump administration against overreach.
“When these actions are overly broad, they imperil science and innovation,” the AJC and university groups said in a joint statement, while affirming a shared commitment to combat hate and ensure campus safety.
Northwestern under pressure
Northwestern University remains in the spotlight. The school’s $790 million in federal funding was recently frozen, and Education Committee Chair Tim Walberg has asked President Michael Schill for additional answers on alleged “assaults and harassment of Jewish students.” Although the university has implemented mandatory antisemitism training and new protest policies, lawmakers remain sceptical of its progress.
As the political pressure mounts, the message from Washington is clear: colleges must act decisively to protect Jewish students — or face the consequences.
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