House Republicans have launched an investigation into allegations of antisemitism at California’s top medical schools, including the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and UC San Francisco (UCSF). Chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., has demanded that these universities submit years of internal documents within two weeks. The inquiry is prompted by reports of Jewish individuals facing hostility and fear on campuses, with particular attention to how the institutions have addressed these issues. Walberg’s letter seeks communications dating back to Sept. 3, 2021, and asks for all documents related to complaints or reports of antisemitic incidents, including administrative discussions. The focus of the investigation includes specific incidents, such as Jewish students allegedly hiding their Jewish identities and statements by university staff attributing the October 2023 attacks on Israel to Jewish influence. These allegations are part of a broader set of ongoing antisemitism probes by the House, following the Trump administration’s scrutiny of UCLA’s practices. The investigation is separate from the Trump administration’s separate probe, which has suspended $584 million in federal grants from UCLA and is seeking a $1 billion settlement for alleged discrimination and antisemitism claims. This has led to various settlements and responses from the institutions involved, as they address the allegations of bias and harassment at their campuses.
The letter to UCSF cites incidents such as Jewish students testifying to the committee that they have “concealed aspects of their Jewish identity” while attending the university. In another instance, a student allegedly told a Jewish student that “Jews control the banks.” A lab technician allegedly told the same Jewish student that Israel deserved what happened on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the letter. Walberg also sent a similar letter to the University of Illinois College of Medicine. UICOM told Fox News Digital in a statement that it “condemns antisemitism, hate and discrimination in all its forms.””We take seriously any allegations of harassment or bias within our campus community,” the statement continued. “The university is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment and will respond to the committee’s questions as requested.”
The House investigation is separate from the Trump administration’s scrutiny of antisemitism allegations at UCLA. President Donald Trump’s administration has already suspended $584 million in federal grants from UCLA after the Justice Department announced it found the school violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The administration said earlier this month that it is seeking $1 billion from UCLA to settle discrimination and antisemitism allegations in exchange for restoring the federal funds. The proposed agreement, sent to the school on Aug. 8, requires UCLA to pay the federal government $1 billion over multiple installments, along with establishing a $172 million claims fund for alleged victims of violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine argued that antisemitism “has no place” on its campus. “Protecting the civil rights of our Jewish community members remains a top priority. 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,” the statement said.
In July, UCLA agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Jewish students and faculty members over the school’s handling of anti-Israel protests, including allowing protesters to ban Jews from a part of the campus known as a “Jew Exclusion Zone.” As the ongoing probe continues, it remains to be seen how these institutions will navigate the complex legal and reputational challenges posed by these allegations.