The Trump administration has launched a sweeping federal investigation into alleged antisemitism across all 22 campuses of the California State University (CSU) system. The probe is being carried out via the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and may involve coordination with the Department of Justice.
CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia confirmed the EEOC has subpoenaed campuses, including Cal State Los Angeles, demanding email addresses and personal phone numbers of faculty and staff. She stated the system will comply while protecting privacy and upholding its mission.
Faculty groups have expressed alarm over due process and privacy concerns. The California Faculty Association (CFA) urged members to consult legal counsel before engaging with investigators.
The administration’s move is in line with broader federal scrutiny of antisemitism in higher education. Earlier in 2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 universities warning of potential enforcement actions under Title VI for failing to curb antisemitic harassment. Additionally, the DOJ in March opened a pattern-or-practice investigation into the University of California system under Title VII.
Critics argue the probe could chill free speech, especially around Palestine–Israel debates. Some warn of potential overreach, likening forced disclosure of private data to McCarthy-era tactics. Supporters contend the federal response is necessary to protect Jewish students and faculty from a hostile campus environment.
This investigation marks one of the most aggressive federal interventions into state-run universities over campus climate and ideological tensions.
