The Justice Department found George Washington University failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus, making it the latest college to face scrutiny from the Trump administration.
DOJ officials said Tuesday the Washington university violated civil rights law by “acting deliberately indifferent to the hostile educational environment” for Jewish students and faculty. The department said it will seek “immediate remediation” with the university. If the school fails to make changes, it could risk losing its federal funding.
The agency said it is offering GWU the chance to enter into a voluntary resolution agreement before the officials proceed with enforcement. But the notice did not include the terms the school must agree to.
“Every student has the right to equal educational opportunities without fear of harassment or abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon in a statement. “No one is above the law, and universities that promulgate antisemitic discrimination will face legal consequences.”
University spokesperson Shannon McClendon said the school is reviewing the letter and will respond but defended the school’s actions to address antisemitism.
“We have taken appropriate action under university policy and the law to hold individuals or organizations accountable, including during the encampment, and we do not tolerate behavior that threatens our community or undermines meaningful dialogue,” McClendon said in a statement. “We have worked diligently with members of GW’s Jewish community, as well as Jewish community organizations, city and federal authorities to protect the GW community from antisemitism and we remain committed to working with them to ensure every student has the right to equal educational opportunities without fear of harassment or abuse.”
GWU was one of 10 colleges the federal task force on combating antisemitism said it would visit due to antisemitic incidents on campus since October 2023.
In a letter sent Tuesday to President Ellen Granberg, the DOJ said Jewish students and faculty were “subjected to a hostile educational environment that was objectively offensive, severe, and pervasive.”
Agency officials pointed to protests last year — including an encampment in the GWU’s University Yard in the center of campus — that they said were disruptive and attempted to “frighten” and “intimidate” Jewish students. The notice also included examples of students being harassed while crossing campus or counterprotesting, as well as instances when university officials and police failed to intervene.
“To be clear, Jewish students were afraid to attend class, to be observed, or, worse, to be ‘caught’ and perhaps physically beaten on GWU’s campus,” the letter said, adding that the university received at least eight complaints of antisemitic discrimination because of the protests.
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