Education Department announced on Monday that the Trump administration will open new investigations into antisemitism allegations at five U.S. colleges, including Columbia University and University of California Berkeley.

This is part of the promise made by President Donald Trump to take a stronger stance against antisemitism on college campuses and deal with harsher punishments than former President Joe Biden, whose administration settled a number of cases in its last weeks. The Justice Department announced the new task force on the same day that the new investigations were launched.

In an executive order signed last weekend, Trump demanded aggressive action against anti-Jewish bias, including deporting foreign students who participated in pro Palestinian protests.

The department has also begun an investigation into the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University. These cases were initiated by the department using its power to initiate its own civil right reviews. Most of the investigations that the department conducts are based on complaints.

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In a statement, the Education Department criticised colleges for tolerating racism after Hamas’ attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023 and a wave pro-Palestinian demonstrations that followed. The statement also criticised the Biden administration’s “toothless resolutions” that failed to hold schools responsible.

The Department of Education has sent a warning to universities, colleges and K-12 schools that it will not tolerate institutional indifference towards the welfare of Jewish students at American campuses. Craig Trainor is the acting assistant secretary responsible for civil rights.

The Department did not provide any details regarding the investigations or how they chose which schools to target. Last year, the presidents of Columbia University and Northwestern University were called to Capitol Hill as Republicans demanded accountability for accusations of antisemitism during protests against Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza. The hearings led to the resignations of several university presidents including Minouche Shafik, Columbia’s president.

A report by the House Republicans in October accused Columbia of not punishing pro-Palestinian student protesters who took over an entire campus building. It also called Northwestern’s negotiations to resolve disputes with student protesters “a stunning capitulation.”

Universities have taken a number of steps to combat antisemitism since the protests on campus.

In an email, Northwestern’s spokesman Jon Yates stated that this includes updating the Student Code of Conduct, improving disciplinary procedures, and investing in public security. Yates stated that “free expression and academic freedom” are two of Northwestern’s core values. However, these values do not excuse behavior that is harmful to others.

A statement from Columbia University said that the university has clarified and strengthened its discipline process. Its interim president Katrina Armstrong has also strengthened its Public Safety Office, and created an Office of Institutional Equity, which will address issues of discrimination and harassment. Columbia strongly condemns all forms of antisemitism, including racism, and is resolute in its refusal to tolerate violence, terror, or any other form of violence.

Portland State’s Katy Swordfisk, a spokeswoman, said that the new investigation “is not evidence of any violations” since the Department of Education initiated it, despite the fact that no one at the university had complained. Portland State intends to work with the Department. Swordfisk wrote in an email that the university “continues to support and engage” with efforts to counter antisemitism, and to mitigate the impact on hate and bias.

The new investigations were applauded by House Republicans. Rep. Tim Walberg of the Education and Workforce Committee said that he is “glad to see an administration taking action” to protect Jewish students.

Trump’s order calls for an exhaustive review of all antisemitism cases filed at the Education Department between Oct. 7, 2020 and now, including those pending or resolved by the Biden Administration. It encourages the Justice Department take action to enforce civil right laws.

The order of last week sparked a backlash among civil rights groups, who claimed it violated the First Amendment rights protecting political speech.

The Justice and Education Departments, along with Health and Human Services, are part of the new task force that was announced on Monday.

Leo Terrell is the assistant attorney general in charge of civil rights. He said, “The Department takes our responsibility seriously to eradicate this hate wherever it may be found.” The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism was created to give life to President Trump’s renewed commitment to end anti-Semitism within our schools.