This post was updated Aug. 31 at 9:52 p.m.
The chairman of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce announced Monday that it is investigating the David Geffen School of Medicine over antisemitism claims.
In a letter addressed to Steven Dubinett, the school’s dean, chairman Tim Walberg – a Michigan Republican – said the committee has been made aware of reports that Jewish students at the medical school experienced “hostility and fear at the hands of peers, colleagues, and administrators” and that their concerns were not addressed by the university.
He added in the letter that the committee is looking into if UCLA violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits “any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance” from discrimination based on race, color or national origin, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Phil Hampton, a spokesperson for the medical school, said in a written statement that protecting the civil rights of Jewish community members is one of the school’s top priorities.
“We are committed to fair processes in all our educational programs and activities, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws and continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment,” he said in the statement.
Walberg sent similar letters to leaders at UC San Francisco and the University of Illinois College of Medicine on Monday.
The Trump administration suspended over $500 million in grants to UCLA following the U.S. Department of Justice’s July 29 letter alleging that the university violated Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by allowing antisemitism on campus following the Palestinian political party and militant group Hamas’ attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The federal government said in letters announcing the suspensions that it froze the funds due to UCLA allegedly allowing antisemitism in research environments, engaging in illegal affirmative action practices and “allowing men to participate in women’s sports.”
[Related: Federal government suspends research funding to UCLA]
The Trump administration sent a proposed settlement to the university in August, which included a $1 billion payment and a $172 million claims fund for those who were allegedly impacted by Title VII violations. The settlement also included several policy changes – demanding that UCLA ban overnight protests and stop offering gender-affirming care, including at the medical school.
[Related: Proposed UCLA settlement from federal government seeks $1 billion, policy changes]
Walberg requested documentation connected to antisemitism reports from the medical school be delivered by Sept. 8, as well as documents and communication from school leadership since Oct. 7, 2023 that includes the words, “Jewish, Israel, Israeli, Palestine, or Palestinian.”
He added in the letter that the investigation would serve as a basis for deciding whether to make changes in legislation later on – including legislation to “specifically address antisemitic discrimination.”
“Under Title VI, even speech that is protected by the First Amendment may contribute to an unlawful hostile environment,” Walberg said in the letter.
Former Chancellor Gene Block testified in front of the same committee in May 2024 following then-chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx’s claims that he had allowed antisemitism on UCLA’s campus. Committee members questioned Block about his response to the first Palestine solidarity encampment, which was set up April 25, 2024 and swept by police May 2, 2024.
[Related: Gene Block faces scrutiny over protest response in Congress antisemitism hearing]
A letter signed by hundreds of Jewish UC community members last week said that funding cuts in the name of preventing antisemitism would have “devastating effects” on millions of Californians – including the Jewish community. Some members of the UCLA Jewish Faculty Resilience Group – which recently called on the UC Board of Regents to “confront systemic antisemitism” and anti-zionism – did not sign on to the letter.
“Cutting off hundreds of millions of research funds will do nothing to make UCLA safer for Jews nor diminish antisemitism in the world,” the letter, written by Jewish faculty members, said. “It will not benefit Jewish Bruins nor Jews beyond campus who make extensive use of its first-rate medical facilities, ground-breaking scientific innovations, and cutting-edge cultural institutions.”
