Immediate Federal Action

The directive will summon all federal agencies to identify the civil and criminal legal avenues available to combat antisemitism. They will have a 60-day window to assess law enforcement options, including the potential deportation of anti-Jewish activists who may have violated any laws.

“Immediate action will be taken by the Department of Justice to protect law and order, quell pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation, and investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities,” states a fact sheet from the White House.

New Executive Orders on Education

Alongside the crackdown, Trump is expected to sign two education-focused executive orders. The first would strip federal funding from K-12 schools teaching critical race theory or radical gender ideology, while the second aims to promote school choice.

Congressional Pressure and Recent Findings

In a recent report released by House Republicans, there was a call for the federal government to take more decisive actions against antisemitism. They suggested conditioning federal aid to colleges as a mechanism to enforce stricter policies against anti-Jewish bias. This initiative follows a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents, notably after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in southern Israel.

Prominent institutions like Columbia University hosted anti-Israel demonstrations, which became hotspots for antisemitic sentiment. The report criticized the Biden administration’s State Department and Department of Homeland Security for allegedly obstructing requests for information related to the visa status of those involved in these protests.

Context of Antisemitism on College Campuses

The White House noted that following the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, pro-Hamas and left-wing agitators launched a campaign of intimidation and vandalism on American campuses. Trump’s approach is characterized as a strong contrast to what his administration claims was a “blind eye” turned by the previous administration regarding the increasing antisemitism on college campuses.

Political Support for Trump’s Measures

Trump’s commitment to fighting antisemitism is further reinforced through his appointment of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik has been an outspoken critic of perceived laxness toward antisemitism in academic settings and is known for her fierce advocacy for Israel.

Since 2023, Stefanik has actively engaged with college administrators about their responses to antisemitism, particularly following the Hamas attacks on Israel. Her intense questioning has drawn attention to how institutions handle hate speech.

High-profile University Responses

In December 2023, Stefanik confronted officials from prestigious Ivy League schools regarding whether calls for the “genocide of Jews” contravened campus conduct codes. The responses from leaders like Harvard’s Claudine Gay, who hesitated to provide a clear “yes” or “no,” sparked widespread criticism. Gay’s assertion that such speech could be permissible depending on the context was particularly contentious, leading to heightened scrutiny of university policies.

After these exchanges went viral on social media, both Gay and Liz Magill, the previous president of the University of Pennsylvania, resigned from their positions.

Implications for Federal Funding

Trump’s plans to cut federal funding for schools that do not actively combat antisemitism come amid a broader controversy regarding federal financing. An Office of Management and Budget memo announced a temporary halt to federal aid programs, which could affect trillions of taxpayer dollars. A federal judge temporarily blocked this freeze following a lawsuit from several Democratic attorneys general.

The Legacy of Trump’s First Term

During his initial presidency, Trump threatened to withdraw federal funding from urban areas that failed to manage the aftermath of protests following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd. However, he left office before executing these threats, leaving some Republicans eager to see those actions manifest now.