A public university and private college in Eastern Washington state are among four higher education institutions in the state warned they could face repercussions if they fail “to protect Jewish students on campus.” 

Eastern Washington University in Cheney and Whitman College in Walla Walla, along with the University of Washington in Seattle and Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma received letters this week from the U.S. Department of Education warning them of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities. 

The letters came less than a week after the administration announced that it would be canceling roughly $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University over “the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students,” according to the Washington State Standard. 

The department’s efforts stem from President Trump’s Executive Order “Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism,” leading to directed investigations into five universities where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported. 

Education officials have not released evidence of harassment of Jewish students at the four Washington state institutions. They are included on a list of 55 additional universities under investigation or monitoring in response to complaints filed with the department's Office of Civil Rights.