Trump Administration Rescinds Penn Employee Name Demand

The Trump administration withdrew its demand for the names of Jewish employees at the University of Pennsylvania on July 23, 2026. This request was part of a broader inquiry into the university's response to antisemitism following the October 7th Hamas attacks. The inquiry, initiated by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, focused on whether the university had violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal funding.

The university had initially received a letter on December 19, 2023, from the Office for Civil Rights, requesting information regarding specific incidents of antisemitism and the university's actions in response. This included a request for the names and contact information of individuals who had filed complaints of antisemitism, as well as the names of employees involved in the university's response to these complaints. The university had expressed concerns that complying with this request could violate privacy protections for its employees.

Following the withdrawal of the name demand, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights confirmed that the inquiry into the University of Pennsylvania's handling of antisemitism allegations remains active. The department stated that it continues to investigate whether the university has taken appropriate steps to address and prevent antisemitic incidents on campus. The university has been cooperative with the ongoing investigation, providing extensive documentation and engaging in dialogue with the office.

This development comes amidst heightened scrutiny of universities nationwide regarding their policies and actions related to antisemitism and Islamophobia. The Department of Education has opened numerous investigations into various institutions following complaints related to campus climate and alleged discrimination. The University of Pennsylvania, in particular, faced significant public and political pressure after its president, Liz Magill, made controversial remarks during a congressional hearing in December 2023 regarding calls for genocide against Jewish people.