Trump admin ‘cautiously encouraged’ by Yale actions on combating antisemitism

The Trump administration said it is “cautiously encouraged” by Yale University’s actions to combat antisemitism on campus amid the administration's crackdown on Ivy League universities.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, the administration has noticed the university has taken actions against a new “antisemitic encampment” on campus and “outrageous examples of harassment and bigotry” in the city.

“With respect to on-campus events, Yale University appears to have enforced its time, place, and manner policies, cleared the area, de-registered a student organization involved in the incident, and started an investigation into individual discipline for students who crossed the line from speech into unlawful conduct,” the task force said in a statement.

“We are cautiously encouraged by Yale’s actions and will be keeping an eye on the situation and aftermath.”

The task force said it encouraged other universities to uphold their anti-discrimination obligations and appropriately discipline students with university policies.

The statement from the task force comes amid the Trump administration’s battle with higher education.

President Trump is currently engaged in a debate with Harvard University after it became the first university to openly reject the administration’s demands. Trump has frozen more than $2 billion in funding for Harvard and called for the school to have its tax-exempt status revoked.

The administration has engaged in a debate with several universities over changing certain policies, including diversity, equity and inclusion practices and hiring and admissions processes, among others.

Harvard has since sued the administration for cutting its funds and accuses the administration of violating the First Amendment.

Columbia University also filed legal action and lost $400 million in federal grants from the administration as a result. The New York university later decided to concede to the administration’s demands but has yet to see funding restored.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said she spoke with leaders from both Harvard and Columbia and warned them about “abiding by the law.”