UCLA Accused of Failing to Address Antisemitism on Campus

Department of Justice sues University of California, alleging Jewish and Israeli employees faced discrimination and hostile work environment

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Department of Justice has sued the University of California, alleging that Jewish and Israeli employees at UCLA faced discrimination and a hostile work environment due to severe and pervasive antisemitism on campus. The lawsuit claims UCLA failed to properly investigate and address complaints of antisemitism, leading to a 'systemic failure' to protect its staff.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about antisemitism on college campuses, particularly at high-profile institutions like UCLA. It raises questions about how universities handle complaints of discrimination and whether they are doing enough to foster inclusive environments for all students, faculty, and staff.

The details

The DOJ alleges that UCLA is in violation of Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The lawsuit claims that after a rise in antisemitism following Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, UCLA repeatedly failed to properly investigate and address complaints from Jewish and Israeli employees. The DOJ says UCLA's own task force found the university's failures amounted to creating a hostile work environment.

  • In March 2025, nearly a dozen California schools received letters from the U.S. Department of Education over investigations into allegations of antisemitic discrimination and harassment.
  • By mid-last year, the Trump administration was looking at a number of universities for a variety of reasons, including accusations of antisemitism.
  • On February 24, 2026, the Department of Justice sued the University of California over the allegations.

The players

University of California

The public university system that includes UCLA and other campuses across the state.

Department of Justice

The U.S. federal agency that filed the lawsuit against the University of California, alleging it failed to protect Jewish and Israeli employees from antisemitic harassment.

UCLA

The University of California, Los Angeles campus, which is at the center of the DOJ's allegations of antisemitism and failure to address complaints.

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What they’re saying

“Antisemitism has no place at UCLA, as UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk has previously said.”

— Mary Osako, UCLA Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications (UCLA statement)

What’s next

The lawsuit is ongoing, and the judge will determine whether the University of California violated federal law in its handling of antisemitism complaints at UCLA.

The takeaway

This case highlights the persistent challenge of addressing antisemitism on college campuses, even at prestigious institutions like UCLA. It underscores the need for universities to have robust systems in place to investigate and respond to discrimination complaints in order to foster truly inclusive environments for all.