In January 2025, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” building upon his 2019 Executive Order 13899. This new order directs federal agencies—including the Departments of Education, Justice, State, and Homeland Security—to assess and report within 60 days on available civil and criminal actions to address anti-Semitic discrimination in educational settings. It also mandates the development of recommendations for monitoring and reporting activities by foreign students and staff at higher education institutions who may fall under U.S. immigration inadmissibility grounds .
The 2019 executive order had expanded the interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections against anti-Semitic discrimination in federally funded educational programs, even though Title VI does not explicitly cover religion. This was achieved by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, which encompasses certain forms of criticism against Israel .
The 2025 order responds to a perceived increase in anti-Semitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. It directs federal agencies to review their enforcement capabilities and consider actions against institutions that may harbor or support anti-Semitic activities .
These executive orders have sparked debate over the balance between combating anti-Semitism and protecting free speech, particularly regarding criticism of Israel. Supporters argue that the measures are necessary to protect Jewish students from discrimination, while critics contend that they may suppress legitimate discourse on Middle Eastern politics .
