USC was among 60 universities “under investigation for antisemitic discrimination and harassment” that received a letter from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights warning them of potential “enforcement actions” if they are found to not be protecting Jewish students, according to a Monday Department of Education press release. 

The Office for Civil Rights enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for schools that receive federal funding from the Department of Education. USC receives around $1.35 billion in federal funding, according to an FAQ page on the University’s website.

The letter, which was obtained by the Daily Trojan, said the United States has seen an “eruption” of antisemitic activity since Oct. 7, 2023. It said former President Joe Biden’s administration reached “toothless resolution agreements” with schools and wrote that President Donald Trump has an “unyielding” commitment to ending antisemitism.

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“Put simply, failure to take sufficient measures to address antisemitic harassment based on shared ancestry violates Title VI,” the letter read. “Under the leadership of President Trump, the widespread violation of Jewish students’ civil rights across campuses will end.”

In a statement to the Daily Trojan, the University wrote it has “unequivocally” denounced antisemitism and has taken action to protect Jewish students from discrimination.

“We look forward to responding to [the] Office for Civil Rights’ letter and sharing with them everything we have done to create a welcoming and non-discriminatory campus environment for all members of our community,” the University wrote.

Monday’s letter follows a Feb. 28 Department of Justice press release announcing that the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism — made up of agencies including the DOJ, Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services — would visit 10 universities, including USC, that have experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023.

In a March 7 Department of Education press release, the task force announced the immediate cancellation of around $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, due to “continued inaction in the face of the persistent harassment of Jewish students.”

The task force will meet with University leadership, students, staff, local law enforcement and community members to gather information to determine if USC will receive “remedial action,” the DOJ press release read.

In a statement to the Daily Trojan, the University wrote it is looking forward to speaking to the DOJ about “everything we have done to create a welcoming and non-discriminatory campus environment for all members of our community.”