Federal Review Initiated Over Antisemitism at University of Washington

The Trump administration has initiated a federal review into the University of Washington following a protest in which pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied and vandalized an engineering building, causing significant property damage and resulting in over 30 arrests. The protest, organized to demand the university divest from Boeing due to its defense contracts with Israel, was condemned by university officials and federal agencies as violent and antisemitic. The Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, involving the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration, commended the university's swift response and law enforcement actions, but insisted that more must be done to deter future violence and ensure Jewish students' safety. Federal officials called for policy changes and enforcement actions to prevent similar incidents and protect students' civil rights. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the protest as part of a troubling trend of antisemitic harassment on college campuses and warned that institutions tolerating such behavior could face consequences regarding federal funding. The university stated it strongly condemns the illegal occupation and damage, and the review will assess UW's actions moving forward.