Biden Administration Warns Schools to Combat Rise in Antisemitism and Islamophobia or Risk Losing Federal Funding

Education Department outlines schools' responsibility under the Civil Rights Act, advising immediate intervention against offensive behavior that severely impacts students' education; Violations could lead to penalties, with loss of federal funding as the ultimate sanction.

The Biden administration is warning U.S. schools and colleges to take action against antisemitism and Islamophobia, citing a rise in threats and harassment. These acts of discrimination have seen a significant uptick since the Israel-Hamas war.
The Education Department has reminded schools and colleges of their legal duty under the Civil Rights Act to protect students and intervene to prevent harassment that disrupts students' education. Schools failing to uphold these responsibilities could face penalties, which may include a loss of federal funding.
Incidents of campus violence have been reported, with protests sometimes turning violent and threats of violence causing disturbances at various institutions. Both Jewish and Muslim students have expressed that more needs to be done to ensure their safety at school.
The Department of Education has faced criticism for providing vague guidance on how schools should respond to such issues. This has led to further problems in distinguishing between political speech and harassment on campuses.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona stressed the importance of tackling casual antisemitism and Islamophobia to prevent escalation into violence. There have been calls for clearer guidance to help colleges identify rhetoric or behaviour that should be deemed antisemitic or Islamophobic.