“ ‘F**! her,’ a classmate commented on a post under my name and photo, mocking me for speaking about the hostile campus climate,” said Eden Yadegar, a Jewish student at Columbia University, as she recounted the evil, antisemitic hatred she faced while speaking at a roundtable held last year by the House Education and Workforce Committee.
After helping shed light on the growing antisemitic cancer attacking college campuses, Eden, my guest at the Joint Session of Congress on March 4, is still facing this hate.
As chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, I know Eden’s story isn’t the exception. I have heard firsthand how Jewish students felt isolated and unsupported by their schools and the government agencies charged with protecting them as they faced threats from their classmates and teachers. Through the committee’s investigation—during which more than 400,000 pages of documents were obtained, some via the first subpoenas to universities in the committee’s 157-year history—we know that many colleges have turned a blind eye to the antisemitism occurring on campus.
Given what the committee uncovered and the continuous headlines of widespread campus disruptions, the Biden-Harris administration took action, right? Wrong. It pandered to the far left. For months, the Biden-Harris administration promised to sign an order that would combat antisemitism only to further delay. Eventually, they released a 60-page toothless document that failed to focus on the threats the Jewish population faced.
What did that get Jewish students? Well, protesters from Columbia illegally entered and occupied Hamilton Hall, smashing windows and destroying furniture. Columbia said that it would expel the students arrested for taking over Hamilton Hall; instead, it let them off the hook and lifted their suspensions. A few weeks ago, an Israeli class history was disrupted when fliers inciting the murder of Jews were distributed.
Columbia University leaders have made public and private promises to Jewish students, faculty and Congress members that the university would take the steps necessary to combat the rampant antisemitism on its campus. Columbia has failed to uphold its commitments.
But that is coming to an end.
Now, the committee and Jewish students and faculty have a strong ally in the White House. During the campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump promised his administration would combat antisemitism on American campuses.
On day one, the president signed an executive order to combat antisemitism. As part of the executive order, the Department of Education has launched investigations into five universities for tolerating “widespread antisemitic harassment” in violation of Title VI.
In February, Trump’s Department of Justice established a joint task force to combat “antisemitic acts of terrorism and civil-rights violations in the homeland.”
Last week, the task force announced it will be visiting 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023. “The task force’s mandate is to bring the full force of the federal government to bear in our effort to eradicate antisemitism, particularly in schools. These visits are just one of many steps this administration is taking to deliver on that commitment,” said Leo Terrell, the head of the task force.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration also announced that it would be re-evaluating Columbia University’s federal contracts and grants due to its lack of response to the violent antisemitic protests occurring on its campus. Universities get thousands of dollars from the federal government; they should be following the law and ensuring Jewish students are safe.
President Trump’s efforts to combat antisemitism can also be found in his cabinet picks. One of the biggest advocates for the Jewish community on our committee, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), has been nominated to serve as the ambassador to the United Nations. The United Nations willingly feeds the anti-Israel beliefs that have led to a rise in antisemitism. I am glad that we have such a fierce advocate for Israeli and American values at the helm of the United Nations.
Linda McMahon, who was just confirmed as the secretary of education, said during her confirmation, “If I am confirmed, the department will not stand idly by while Jewish students are attacked and discriminated against.”
Bottom line, Trump’s words have been backed by action, and he has kept his promise to protect Jewish Americans.
The Jewish community finally has an ally in the Oval Office; someone who not only hears their struggles but will stand up for them rather than caving to the political pressure. This means something to Jewish people of all ages, especially the young students who have to face the discrimination their families fled to America to avoid.
The disease of antisemitism must be rooted out before it spreads to the next generation. President Trump’s firm hand on this issue is the remedy we need. We owe it to our youth to ensure they never face harassment, threats, or violence because of their faith. This is a promise we should always honor because it goes hand in hand with the promise of the American Dream. Thankfully, President Trump is delivering on this promise.