U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon appeared on Fox Business Friday to share how the U.S. Department of Education is combating antisemitism at elite universities.
During an appearance on “Kudlow,” McMahon said it’s urgent to address rising anti-Semitism at these schools. McMahon said the Trump administration’s strategy hinges on immediate support from Congress.
“I can tell you two things that the Department of Education has already done, gone through contracts and grants that had DEI programs as part of it and stripped that out or stopped those grants. And also we’ve now launched investigations into five different universities, Harvard being one. Columbia was one, to make sure that they are getting rid of these antisemitic actions, programs, whatever it is they’re doing,” McMahon told host Larry Kudlow.
McMahon said campus safety matters.
“We believe our university should be open for freedom of expression, free speech, open dialogue and debate, but not this kind of violence that is dangerous,” McMahon said.
President Trump said he wants to dissolve the Education Department, and, as Kudlow pointed out, doing so requires congressional support. Trump also suggested transferring responsibilities of student loans from the Education Department to the Treasury, the Small Business Administration, or the Department of Commerce. McMahon said that discussion is underway.
“I’m meeting with Scott Bessent on Monday. We’ve had a preliminary conversation already. I don’t think it should be in the Department of Education for sure. It’s not a bank,” McMahon said. “Treasury does have the ability and already services several agencies across government, and it could very well be the best place for it to be.”
McMahon went on to criticize the Education Department for its inefficiencies and its perceived subservience to educational unions. She cited a continual decline in educational performance standards.
“This department was set up in 1980. Since that time we’ve spent a trillion dollars on education to watch our performance scores continue to go down. We are clearly not doing something right,” McMahon said.
The Trump administration decided to slash $400 million in federal funds to Columbia University in response to ongoing pro-Hamas protests. The funding reduction follows an incident where protesters occupied a building, showcased terrorist propaganda, and reportedly assaulted a staff member at the Columbia-affiliated Barnard College.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields said that the newly established federal task force to “Combat Antisemitism” is actively reviewing federal grants, commitments, and contracts.
“The government’s Anti[semitism] Task Force is considering Stop Work Orders for over $50 million in contracts with the federal government and will review more than $5 billion in grant commitments to ensure the university is in compliance with federal regulations,” Fields said, reiterating an announcement the task force made Monday.
New York Police detained nine individuals on Wednesday at Barnard College’s Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning for occupation, according to the Columbia Spectator.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Fox Business)
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