DOJ’s Harmeet Dhillon Declares Battling Antisemitism a Top Priority Amid Crackdown on University DEI Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Battling antisemitism has become a top priority for the Department of Justice, with the federal government launching aggressive legal actions against higher education institutions and individuals, according to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon. In a recent discussion regarding the Civil Rights Division’s mandate, Dhillon detailed the DOJ’s multi-front strategy to eradicate bigotry against Jews and Christians while simultaneously dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies across the country.

Dhillon emphasized that the Civil Rights Division is aggressively enforcing civil rights laws—including Title II, Title VI, and Title VII—to combat the current crisis of bigotry. Highlighting the DOJ’s enforcement efforts, she noted that the department has sued Harvard University and UCLA over antisemitism on their campuses. Additionally, the DOJ sent a letter and opened an investigation into the harassment of Congressman Goldman in Brooklyn.

The federal government has also opened numerous investigations and reached settlements with multiple universities to address rampant antisemitism. A prominent example includes Columbia University, which reached a $200 million settlement with the DOJ. In coordination with the department, Columbia also agreed to the largest antisemitism Title VII settlement in history.

Beyond campus investigations, the DOJ is pursuing criminal charges to protect houses of worship. Dhillon revealed that she personally authorized three criminal prosecutions for attacks on synagogues this month alone. Her team is also heading to trial for an arson case involving a synagogue fire in Mississippi.

Dhillon shared that she has personally toured several synagogues and spoken with rabbis who have faced harassment. To further protect religious institutions, the DOJ has brought prominent FACE Act cases and is prosecuting the killer of two Israeli embassy officials in Washington, D.C. The department is also taking action against a firebombing incident that occurred in Colorado.

The conversation also shifted to the broader cultural implications of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which were described as a progenitor to the recent surge in antisemitism. While the DOJ is aggressively targeting universities, Dhillon noted that American corporations have largely welcomed the end of DEI. She explained that businesses view these mandates as a tax that forces them to hire less qualified individuals simply to check administrative boxes.

Universities, however, present a different challenge. Dhillon pointed out that there are 6,000 institutions receiving federal funding, and the DOJ lacks the resources to pursue all of them. She acknowledged that some universities are hoping to outlast the administration by simply renaming their programs and burrowing deeper. In response, the DOJ is strategically selecting prominent examples and threatening their federal funding to ensure compliance, with lawyers remaining vigilant to follow every lead.

The crackdown on DEI and antisemitism is also extending into K-12 education. Dhillon criticized certain DEI practices in schools, specifically calling out the corrosive and destructive nature of policies that pretend boys and girls are interchangeable or facilitate gender transitions.

Reflecting on the department’s aggressive agenda, Dhillon stated that the Civil Rights Division is likely the busiest it has been during a Republican administration. She described her role as a joy, emphasizing the department’s overarching goal to help move America back to the middle.