WASHINGTON – House Republicans on the Education Committee grilled Harvard, Penn, and MIT presidents over their response to antisemitism on their campuses since Hamas’ attack on Israel. The questioning arose during a more than five-hour hearing on Tuesday, where college leaders faced demands for clarification on whether pro-Palestinian student protesters’ calls for “intifada” or “the genocide of Jews” violate their school’s policies on bullying or harassment. The presidents refused to categorize “calling for the genocide of Jews” as bullying or harassment, defending free speech on campus.

Committee Chair Virginia Foxx called the presidents’ testimonies “unacceptable” and expressed deep concerns about their leadership and the safety of Jewish students on campus. A formal investigation will probe the schools’ learning environments, policies, and disciplinary procedures, including substantial document requests. Foxx warned that universities should expect investigations if their failures in addressing antisemitism have not gone unnoticed.

Harvard and MIT responded to the announcement, expressing commitment to combating antisemitism on their campuses. Harvard stated that its efforts are advancing with the highest commitment and attention from University leaders, while MIT emphasized its rejection of antisemitism in all its forms and its campus-wide initiative ‘Standing Against Hate.’

The committee’s inquiry will not be limited to just Harvard, MIT, and Penn, signaling a wide-reaching investigation into universities’ responses to antisemitism on their campuses. As lawmakers pursue their inquiry, universities are expected to work with the committee and share information related to their efforts in combating antisemitism.