In a major escalation of its civil rights enforcement strategy, the Trump administration is preparing to freeze more than $500 million in federal funding to Brown University, citing concerns over the school’s response to antisemitism on campus. The Department of Education confirmed that the funding hold will remain in place while it investigates whether Brown is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin—protections that extend to Jewish students under federal guidelines.
A senior administration official said the probe centers on whether Brown failed to address antisemitic harassment tied to recent pro-Palestinian protests and ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of elite universities and their handling of campus speech, student safety, and civil rights obligations in the current political climate.
The threat to suspend funding follows a February directive sent to 60 universities—including Brown—warning that failure to protect Jewish students could result in serious penalties. Brown is already operating under a prior federal oversight agreement tied to an earlier civil rights complaint, reported The Daily Caller.
“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a February letter.
Brown is the latest in a string of high-profile schools to face financial repercussions from the Department of Education. Earlier this week, the administration suspended $210 million in funding to Princeton University over its handling of antisemitic incidents during a 2023 pro-Palestinian rally. That investigation began under the Biden administration and has continued under Trump.
Other institutions have faced similar actions: the University of Pennsylvania lost $175 million over disputes involving gender and athletics policies, while Columbia University saw $400 million withdrawn after prolonged negotiations over antisemitism-related complaints. The former found itself embroiled in controversy after its president appeared before Congress and struggled with questions related to antisemitism.
The enforcement push aligns with Trump’s broader goal of reshaping the role of the Department of Education. In March, the former president announced his intention to dismantle the agency entirely—a move that would require congressional approval but reflects growing Republican skepticism of higher education’s direction.
Brown University’s leadership released a statement, saying, “Brown University is home to a vibrant Jewish community that continues to flourish with the steadfast support of the administration. Amidst broader concerns about antisemitism on college campuses, Brown stands out as an inclusive environment where Jewish life is deeply integrated into campus culture.”
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