Two of Philadelphia’s largest colleges — Temple and Drexel universities — were among 60 schools singled out by President Donald Trump’s administration as being at risk of losing federal funding due to antisemitism complaints.
The U.S. Department of Education informed the colleges this week of “potential enforcement actions” if they do not protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination. Reports of antisemitic incidents on campuses across the country surged amid an upswell in pro-Palestine activism in response to the war in Gaza.
On Friday, the Trump administration cancelled $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University in response to its handling of harassment allegations against Jewish pupils, with officials saying the move should serve as a signal to other colleges.
“University leaders must do better,” new Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.”
Representatives from Swarthmore College, in Delaware Country, said they received the education department’s letter late Monday.
The school “values and supports individuals’ rights to express their views and engage in peaceful protest and dissent,” spokesperson Cara Anderson said in a statement. “We have also been clear and consistent with the campus community that those rights do not extend so far as to infringe on the ability of other students, faculty, and staff members to fully engage in the life of the campus.”
In a message to students and staff, Temple President John Fry said the school is adhering to a November settlement with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) over claims of discrimination mainly targeting Jewish students.
The agreement includes more training for staff and students; a climate survey; a review of past cases; and continued communication with OCR, among other stipulations.
“We are committed to meeting our obligations to ensure individuals can access their educational and employment opportunities and strive towards a campus community in which all feel supported and safe,” Fry wrote.
Anderson said Swarthmore is cooperating with an ongoing federal investigation, and Drexel reached a resolution with OCR in August — with provisions similar to those incorporated into Temple’s agreement. The West Philadelphia-based college did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The warnings come just days after immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident and recent Columbia graduate who helped organize pro-Palestine demonstrations.
White House officials have said the administration plans to deport Khalil, with Trump saying his case is “the first arrest of many to come.” Khalil’s apprehension has sparked large protests in New York.
Encampments sprung up last spring at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel and Swarthmore, with demonstrators calling on college administrators to divest from Israel. Though Penn was perhaps the center of that activity, the Ivy League school did not receive a letter this week.
OCR, in a statement, said the notification went out to all universities “presently under investigation” for alleged antisemitic civil rights violations. The office, under former President Joe Biden, opened a bevy of higher education probes following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
In the wider region, letters also went out to Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, Princeton University and Rutgers University.
