Baltimore, MD – March 11, 2025 – Johns Hopkins University, a prestigious institution renowned for its research and academic excellence, is now under scrutiny as the U.S. Department of Education has issued a warning that could jeopardize its federal funding. The threat comes amid allegations that the university has failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus, a concern that has escalated since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023. The warning, delivered on Monday, March 10, 2025, places Johns Hopkins among 60 colleges nationwide facing similar pressure from the Trump administration.
The Department of Education’s letter to Johns Hopkins accuses the university of not doing enough to ensure a safe environment for Jewish students, citing “relentless antisemitic eruptions” that have disrupted campus life for over a year. “The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a statement accompanying the warning. “University leaders must do better” (NBC Washington, March 11, 2025). The letter warns that failure to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin—including shared ancestry—could result in the loss of federal funds, a critical resource for the university’s operations.
This development follows a pattern of heightened federal action under the Trump administration. Just days earlier, on March 7, 2025, Columbia University lost $400 million in grants and contracts after a federal task force investigation into antisemitism (CBS New York, March 7, 2025). Johns Hopkins is now slated for a similar visit from the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, which was announced on February 28, 2025, to investigate reported incidents at multiple universities, including Johns Hopkins (Post on X by @TheLeoTerrell, February 28, 2025).
The university’s troubles trace back to a turbulent period following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. According to a January 2025 settlement with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, Johns Hopkins faced nearly 100 complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia between October 2023 and May 2024 (The Baltimore Banner, January 8, 2025). These incidents ranged from social media posts to vandalism, prompting federal scrutiny under Title VI. As part of the voluntary resolution, Johns Hopkins agreed to implement anti-discrimination training and conduct a climate assessment, though it did not admit wrongdoing (Campus Reform, January 8, 2025).
Recent reports indicate that the situation remains unresolved. The Department of Education’s latest warning suggests that the university’s efforts have fallen short in the eyes of federal authorities. “Johns Hopkins University abhors anti-Semitism and discrimination of any kind,” a university spokesperson stated in response to earlier allegations, emphasizing a commitment to fostering a “safe, respectful, and inclusive environment” (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, February 14, 2024). However, the installation of large security cameras on campus last fall—viewed by some student activists as an attempt to suppress protests—has only fueled tensions (The Baltimore Banner, March 11, 2025).
The financial stakes are high. Johns Hopkins received over $1 billion from the National Institutes of Health alone in fiscal year 2024, with additional funding from agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development supporting its public health initiatives (Higher Ed Dive, March 5, 2025). President Ron Daniels warned earlier this month of “perplexing and distressing” budget cuts looming due to federal policy shifts, including an $800 million reduction in USAID funds (Higher Ed Dive, March 5, 2025). The potential loss of further federal support could exacerbate these challenges, impacting research, personnel, and programs.
Critics argue that the administration’s approach—tying funding to allegations of inaction—may infringe on free speech. “Withdrawing millions of dollars in grants, often funding medical research, to essentially punish free speech is unconstitutional,” said First Amendment attorney Ian Rosenberg (CBS New York, March 7, 2025). Meanwhile, Jewish student groups at Johns Hopkins have expressed mixed sentiments, with some calling for stronger action against harassment and others decrying the politicization of their safety.
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