Trump Administration Task Force Targets University of Washington Over Anti-Israel Protest

SEATTLE (VINnews) — A federal task force created under President Donald Trump’s executive order to combat antisemitism has launched a formal review of the University of Washington following a violent protest on May 5 in which demonstrators took over an engineering building, set property on fire, and allegedly shouted death threats at law enforcement.

The protest, organized by anti-Israel activists calling for the university to divest from Boeing due to its ties to military operations in Gaza, drew swift condemnation from Trump administration officials overseeing the task force.

In a joint statement, the Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said it “appreciates the university’s strong statement condemning last night’s violence and applauds the quick action by law enforcement officers to remove violent criminals from the university campus. While these are good first steps, the university must do more to deter future violence and guarantee that Jewish students have a safe and productive learning environment.”

The task force is urging the university to implement enforcement actions and policy changes, warning that failure to act could put federal funding at risk.

“The violence and chaos that ensued on the University of Washington’s campus is yet another horrifying display of the antisemitic harassment and lawlessness which has characterized many of our nation’s elite campuses over the last several years,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “This destructive behavior is unacceptable.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. added that “no institution that tolerates violence, harassment, or the open intimidation of Jewish students should expect to receive billions in taxpayer support.”

The review is the latest in a series of federal enforcement actions aimed at elite universities, following similar investigations into protests at Columbia University and Harvard University.

The task force cited Trump’s executive order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism” as the legal basis for the review, stating it is committed to safeguarding federal investments in higher education and protecting the civil rights of Jewish students.

University of Washington officials have not yet commented on the task force’s statement or the investigation.