News Summary
The Trump administration has initiated federal investigations into allegations of antisemitism and racial discrimination within the California State University (CSU) system. Chancellor Mildred García announced the probes, which involve the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) overseeing reports of antisemitism among faculty and staff. CSU is cooperating fully, and a federal subpoena targeting Cal State Los Angeles has raised concerns about its recent pro-Palestinian events. Concurrently, the U.S. Department of Education is investigating potential Title VI violations linked to CSU’s collaboration with the PhD Project, which aims to diversify faculty employment.
California – The Trump administration has opened federal investigations into alleged antisemitism and racial discrimination at the California State University (CSU) system, the largest four-year university system in the United States. Chancellor Mildred García notified the Cal State community of the investigations in an email on Friday.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has begun direct outreach to some faculty and staff to review allegations of antisemitism within the CSU system. CSU has stated that it is fully cooperating with the EEOC during this investigatory process.
As part of the investigation, the EEOC has issued a federal subpoena to Cal State Los Angeles, demanding personal phone numbers and email addresses of all former and current employees since 2023. The specific reasons for the EEOC’s information request remain unclear; however, CSU-LA has recently hosted a pro-Palestinian encampment that reportedly disrupted campus life, which may be related to the inquiry.
In response to the subpoena, Cal State Los Angeles’s Vice President Claudio Lindow communicated to employees that the university is legally obligated to respond and will manage the information responsibly.
In addition, Chancellor García noted that CSU is also under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. This inquiry is related to CSU’s collaboration with the PhD Project, an organization aimed at diversifying the academic workforce by raising awareness of faculty job opportunities.
The partnership with the PhD Project has been scrutinized since March, with several universities, including CSU-San Bernardino, targeted over allegations of discrimination based on race. The focus of these investigations is the potential violation of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
García reaffirmed the CSU system’s commitment to non-discriminatory practices, emphasizing that the university hires qualified individuals based on their experience without regard to race or national origin.
The broader context of these investigations emerges against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations between the University of California system and the Trump administration regarding concerns of antisemitism, particularly at UCLA. Federal officials have demanded a $1-billion settlement from UCLA, which is connected to its federal research funding amidst these allegations.
Further complicating matters, California’s Civil Rights Council has announced new regulations on automated tools pertaining to workplace issues, which will come into effect in October 2025.
There is a growing divide in public opinion surrounding the administration’s actions, with accusations of using allegations of antisemitism as a political weapon against colleges. A recent poll indicates that a significant percentage of Jewish Americans express concern about antisemitism on campus. However, many also perceive the administration’s actions as influenced by political motives.
Protests advocating for divestment from corporations with connections to Israel have been held across various college campuses, including CSU, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding these issues. The federal government has criticized universities for failing to adequately protect Jewish students and has hinted at conditioning federal funding based on responses to allegations of antisemitism.
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HERE Resources
Federal Investigation Into Antisemitism Allegations at CSU
Federal Investigation Into California State University System
Investigations into Antisemitism Allegations at CSU
CSU System Under Investigation for Antisemitism Allegations
Federal Investigation into Antisemitism at CSU Campuses
Additional Resources
- HR Dive: California State University EEOC & Education Department Investigations
- Wikipedia: Antisemitism in the United States
- Los Angeles Times: Cal State Probe into Antisemitism
- Google Search: California State University antisemitism
- NBC Bay Area: CSU System Investigation into Alleged Antisemitism
- Google Scholar: California State University antisemitism
- FOX LA: Trump CSU Antisemitism Investigation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Antisemitism
- Patch: Trump Administration Alleges Antisemitism, Subpoenas CSU Employee Data
- Google News: CSU antisemitism investigation
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