Whistleblower alleges Justice Department used antisemitism probes to force university settlements

The allegations suggest that federal investigations into university antisemitism may have been used to influence academic institutions and redirect hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants, raising questions about the integrity of civil rights enforcement.

• •Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million to the government to restore access to federal funding.
• •Brown University agreed to pay $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development organizations to resolve three federal investigations.
• •A federal judge previously ordered the administration to reverse $2.6 billion in research funding cuts to Harvard University.
• •A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the administration against Harvard regarding harassment of Jewish students.
• •The whistleblower complaint alleges that the task force sought settlements despite finding no evidence of Title VI violations at Brown.
• •The complaint alleges that investigations into Columbia were accelerated and relied on unsupported allegations or protected First Amendment activity.
• •The task force was launched by the Justice Department in February 2025.
• •Whistleblower Haley Van Erem resigned in May 2025, citing concerns over politically motivated investigations.
• •The complaint was filed with the inspectors general at the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, and the Office of Special Counsel.