The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the University of California, alleging that its Los Angeles campus fostered a hostile work environment for Jewish and Israeli employees. The complaint, brought by the Department of Justice, claims university administrators allowed antisemitic harassment to persist following widespread campus protests related to the October 2023 attack on Israel.

Federal officials argue that the university violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to prevent and address discriminatory conduct, including encampments, physical assaults, antisemitic graffiti, and the exclusion of Jewish individuals from parts of campus. The lawsuit also alleges that internal complaints were ignored and that faculty members who raised concerns faced retaliation.

The university previously agreed to pay 6 million dollars to settle a separate lawsuit over allegations that protesters created an exclusion zone targeting Jewish students. In response to the new lawsuit, the university said antisemitism has no place on campus and pointed to recent initiatives aimed at combating discrimination, adding that it will vigorously defend its actions.

The federal government is seeking court-ordered reforms and monetary damages for affected employees, stating that institutions must ensure workplaces are free from antisemitic harassment and civil rights violations.