Education Secretary McMahon: Administration Working to Eradicate Antisemitism, DEI from Campuses

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon declared Tuesday that her department has been aggressively targeting antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at American universities, vowing to ensure campuses remain free of what she described as discriminatory practices.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting hosted by President Donald Trump, McMahon emphasized the administration’s commitment to overhauling higher education. “We’ve been working really very hard to make sure that we’ve got antisemitism and DEI out of our universities,” she said, according to a video clip circulating on social media.

The remarks come amid ongoing federal investigations and funding cuts aimed at institutions accused of failing to protect Jewish students or promoting race-based preferences. Since taking office earlier this year, McMahon’s Department of Education has launched probes into dozens of universities for alleged Title VI violations of the Civil Rights Act, including widespread antisemitic harassment and impermissible racial scholarships.

In March, the department warned 60 colleges of potential enforcement actions if they did not safeguard Jewish students’ access to campus facilities and educational opportunities. McMahon has repeatedly stated that institutions tolerating antisemitism will face defunding until corrective measures are implemented, echoing a $400 million cut to Columbia University earlier this year.

“We are deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety,” McMahon said in a statement accompanying the warnings. She has also championed merit-based assessments, asserting, “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudiced by the color of their skin.”

The push aligns with a landmark agreement reached last month with Northwestern University, hailed by McMahon as “a huge win for current and future Northwestern students, alumni, faculty, and for the future of American higher education.” Under the deal, Northwestern committed to mandatory antisemitism training for all students, faculty and staff, along with clear policies on protests and expressive activities.

Critics, including some Democrats during McMahon’s February confirmation hearing, have pressed for more specifics on addressing the backlog of civil rights complaints filed since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. McMahon pledged to “not stand idly by while Jewish students are attacked and discriminated against,” but offered few implementation details at the time.

The administration’s broader agenda includes scrutinizing partnerships like The Ph.D. Project, accused of limiting eligibility based on race, and programs segregating students by ethnicity. Six universities face probes for race-based scholarships, while others, including the University of Notre Dame, are under review for DEI-related issues.

McMahon’s efforts have drawn praise from Jewish advocacy groups and Republican lawmakers, who see them as fulfilling Trump’s executive order to deport pro-Hamas radicals and enforce civil rights laws. However, a federal judge recently ruled against the administration in a case involving Harvard University, unfreezing $2.2 billion in grants and accusing officials of using antisemitism as a “smokescreen” for ideological attacks on academia.

Harvard President Alan Garber responded to a May letter from McMahon by affirming the university’s commitment to combating antisemitism and all discrimination, citing task force reports on anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim bias.

As the academic year progresses, McMahon’s office continues to monitor compliance, with additional investigations announced into 45 universities for race-based violations. The secretary has framed these actions as essential to restoring academic excellence and safety on campuses nationwide.