The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it will review “anti-Semitic violence at the University of Washington (UW) and its affiliates” after anti-Israel demonstrators took over a science building at the school and lit fires on campus.
“The violence and chaos that ensued on University of Washington’s campus is yet another horrifying display of the antisemitic harassment and lawlessness which has characterized many of our nation’s elite campuses over the last several years,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.
“This destructive behavior is unacceptable,” she added. “The Task Force will not allow these so-called ‘protesters’ to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights.”
The Monday protest, organized by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER), saw members of the anti-Israel student group seize UW’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building — blocking access to the facility — and set two dumpsters on fire as they allegedly praised Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people and saw another 251 kidnapped.
Seattle police arrested 30 individuals allegedly involved in the protest.
“The despicable events that occurred at the University of Washington are another disturbing example of how institutions are failing to protect their communities from radical and dangerous harassment,” Trump administration antisemitism task force member and General Services Administration Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said in a statement.
“We are thankful to local law enforcement for responding; that doesn’t absolve the university for allowing the ground to grow fertile for anti-Semitism,” he added. “The Task Force has a clear mandate — to ensure institutions that receive federal funds are fully complying with civil rights laws — we will use every tool available to fulfill that mandate.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that “no institution that tolerates violence, harassment, or the open intimidation of Jewish students should expect to receive billions in taxpayer support.”
“This isn’t about politics — it’s about whether a federally funded university is upholding the law, protecting civil rights, and fostering a safe environment for all students,” Kennedy said in a statement.
Trump’s antisemitism task force noted that it “appreciates” UW’s “strong statement condemning last night’s violence” and praised Seattle police for their “quick action” to remove the “violent criminals” from campus.
Seattle cops made at least 30 arrests at the protest.
“While these are good first steps, the university must do more to deter future violence and guarantee that Jewish students have a safe and productive learning environment,” the task force said in a statement.
The task force has launched similar probes into antisemitism at Columbia University and Harvard University, which have resulted in federal funds allocated for the schools being frozen.
The University of Washington did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
