# Whistleblower Exposes Trump’s Campus Antisemitism Crackdown

> Former DOJ lawyer Haley Van Erem reveals Trump administration’s politically motivated campus antisemitism investigations.
- Title: Whistleblower Exposes Trump’s Campus Antisemitism Crackdown
- Summary: Former DOJ lawyer Haley Van Erem reveals Trump administration’s politically motivated campus antisemitism investigations.
- Keywords: haley van erem, doj, trump administration, campus antisemitism, title vi, first amendment, university funding, brown university, columbia university, student speech, jewish students, The New Yorker
- Source: The New Yorker — https://newyorker.com/news/the-lede/a-whistle-blower-speaks-out-about-trumps-crackdown-on-campus-antisemitism
- Author: Eyal Press
- Published: 2026-11-13T18:03:35.632+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: haley van erem, doj, trump administration, campus antisemitism, title vi, first amendment, university funding, brown university, columbia university, student speech, jewish students, politics
## Haley Van Erem’s DOJ Role
Haley Van Erem, a DOJ lawyer who entered through an honors program in 2015, worked on disability rights cases before being reassigned to the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.
## Joint Task Force Launch
The Trump administration created the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism in January 2025 to address campus antisemitism, targeting federal funding for universities.
## Brown University Investigation
Brown University faced a Title VI investigation for alleged antisemitism at graduation ceremonies, including accusations of genocide chants and pro-Palestine symbols.
## Investigation Basis
The investigation relied on a January 27, 2025, New York Post article claiming students at top medical schools engaged in antisemitic conduct during 2024 graduations.
## Investigation Outcome
The investigation found no Title VI violations at Brown, but the university agreed to pay $50 million for Rhode Island workforce programs and adopt government definitions of gender and race neutrality.
## Funding Freeze
The Trump administration blocked $500 million in federal funding to Brown, claiming antisemitism violations despite minimal evidence.
## Internal Concerns
Van Erem and five other DOJ lawyers wrote to HHS that the funding freeze lacked Title VI evidence, but were told it was unrelated to the investigation.
## HHS Meeting
At an HHS meeting, Van Erem’s note-taking was criticized, with the acting general counsel telling her to stop recording concerns.
## Brown’s Response
Brown University quickly addressed threats to Jewish students, including police involvement and security upgrades after a violent email incident.
## Columbia Settlement
Columbia University agreed to restrict student protests and adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s antisemitism definition in its settlement with the government.
## First Amendment Concerns
Van Erem argued the investigations ignored First Amendment protections for political speech about Israel and Gaza.
## Survey Findings
A 2024 University of Chicago survey found 56% of Jewish students feared safety since October 7, 2023, but most did not hold traditional antisemitic stereotypes.
## Trump’s Support
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s administration for addressing campus antisemitism, while American Jews opposed funding freezes.
## Whistleblower Disclosure
Van Erem filed a whistleblower disclosure with the DOJ and HHS, claiming the investigations were politically motivated and lacked legal support.
## Dhillon’s Resignation
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon resigned after Republicans lost midterm elections, leaving the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division weakened.
## Consequence
The whistleblower disclosures may embolden universities to challenge government demands while preserving academic freedom and funding.
## Key takeaway

Haley Van Erem, a former DOJ lawyer, says Trump’s administration used antisemitism claims to punish universities without evidence, violating Title VI and the First Amendment.