Trump administration opens antisemitism investigation into Haverford College

The Trump administration continued its siege on campus antisemitism by launching Wednesday an investigation into Haverford College, citing concerns about the Pennsylvania school’s reportedly lackluster response to incidents of discrimination against Jewish students.

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights said there are “credible reports that Haverford has failed to respond as required by law to multiple incidents of discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students on its campus.”

In May, Haverford President Wendy Raymond was grilled by Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce Committee after she refused to disclose how many students and faculty have been disciplined for antisemitic incidents.

She also declined to say whether the university investigated or disciplined a professor who reposted a message on X calling the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli civilians a “historic moment” involving “an imprisoned people breaking free from their chains.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik, New York Republican, told Ms. Raymond that “Haverford still doesn’t get it,” noting that the two other university presidents testifying at the hearing provided specific data on the aggregate number of disciplinary actions.

“Like many other institutions of higher education, Haverford College is alleged to have ignored antisemitic harassment on its campus, contravening federal civil rights law and its own anti-discrimination policies. Jewish students — like all students — deserve to learn and thrive in an environment free from wanton hostility and intentional intimidation,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

More than 60 universities are under antisemitism investigation for potential violations of Title VI, the federal civil-rights law banning discrimination based on race, color and national origin, including Jewish ancestry.

“The Trump administration will not allow Jewish life to be pushed into the shadows because college leaders are too craven to respond appropriately to unlawful antisemitic incidents on campus,” Mr. Trainor said. “The Office for Civil Rights will investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure all students are treated equally under law.”

ED’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating Haverford College for allegedly failing to respond to multiple incidents of discrimination & harassment against Jewish & Israeli students on its campus, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. https://t.co/rcodng0Hwi pic.twitter.com/U7NUFa8OJj

— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) August 20, 2025

Ms. Raymond told the committee that there is “no room for discrimination” at Haverford, but Jewish students have accused school officials of downplaying complaints about surging antisemitism by reportedly telling them to be “brave” and dismissing the vandalism of Chabad and Israeli hostage posters.

In January, five Jewish students represented by the Deborah Project filed an amended antisemitism complaint against Haverford after a federal judge dismissed their lawsuit, but allowed them to amend it.