UC Berkeley Provides 160 Names in Federal Antisemitism Probe, Including Theorist Judith Butler

UC Berkeley has submitted the names of 160 students and teachers to the US Department of Education as part of a federal investigation into potential antisemitism. Among those named is prominent theorist Judith Butler. The university sent letters to these individuals, informing them they had been flagged with the government's Office of Civil Rights, which requested comprehensive documents related to alleged antisemitic incidents. Last month, the federal government suspended $584 million in research grants to Berkeley's parent institution over apparent mishandling of antisemitism cases, though $83 million has since been restored following legal action. In a letter to Berkeley's legal office shared with the San Francisco Chronicle, Butler expressed concern that none of those named have been informed about the substance of the accusations against them. Butler questioned whether those on the list might face travel restrictions, surveillance of communications, or be branded on a government list. The investigation stems from incidents largely connected to criticism of Israel's military actions in Palestine. The Department of Education, under Trump administration control, is conducting the probe.