The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it will initiate a review at the University of Washington following “recent incidents of antisemitic violence” on its campus.

The review, which follows several similar actions taken at universities such as Harvard and Columbia, will be led by the Education and Health and Human Services departments, as well as the General Services Administration.

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“The violence and chaos that ensued on the University of Washington’s campus is yet another horrifying display of the antisemitic harassment and lawlessness which has characterized many of our nation’s elite campuses over the last several years. This destructive behavior is unacceptable,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement shared with the Washington Examiner. “The Task Force will not allow these so-called ‘protesters’ to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters overran the university’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, which benefited from a $10 million donation from Boeing, on Monday. Protesters with Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return projected “Free Palestine” and “Shaban Al-Dalou Building” on the building, along with placing banners in the windows.

“We are taking this building amid the current and renewed wave of the student Intifada, following the uprising of student action for Palestine after the heroic victory of Al-Aqsa Flood on Oct. 7, which shattered the illusion of zionist-imperialist domination and brought Palestine to the forefront for all justice-loving people of the world,” SUPER’s statement said. “We demand that our tuition money and our research not be used to fund and fuel genocide. Time and time again, UW administration prioritizes their ability to rake in blood money over the demands of their students and workers.”

The university said many of the protesters were arrested on a litany of charges.

“As law enforcement from several agencies assembled to respond, individuals who mostly covered their faces blocked access to two streets outside the building, blocked entrances and exits to the building, and ignited fires in two dumpsters on a street outside,” a statement from the university said. “About 30 individuals who occupied the building were arrested and charges of trespassing, property destruction, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit all three will be referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.”

“The UW is committed to maintaining a secure learning and research environment, and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the antisemitic statement that was issued by a suspended student group Monday,” the university continued. “The University will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior and will continue to oppose antisemitism in all its forms.”

The Trump administration said the protest prompted the review but praised the university’s firm actions against protesters.

“The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism appreciates the university’s strong statement condemning last night’s violence and applauds the quick action by law enforcement officers to remove violent criminals from the university campus,” the statement said. “While these are good first steps, the university must do more to deter future violence and guarantee that Jewish students have a safe and productive learning environment. The Task Force expects the institution to follow up with enforcement actions and policy changes that are clearly necessary to prevent these uprisings moving forward.”

The statement said the action is being taken under President Donald Trump’s Jan. 29 executive order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism.” Federal funding at Harvard and Columbia was threatened over claims of antisemitism on their campuses. Harvard has resisted the Trump administration’s demands. It received a letter from McMahon on Monday saying no grants will be provided to the university.

Columbia has been more friendly, but still had its funding revoked and was forced to lay off staffers.

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“Columbia’s leadership continues discussions with the federal government in support of resuming activity on these research awards and additional other awards that have remained active, but unpaid,” the letter from Columbia’s top officials said. “We are working on and planning for every eventuality, but the strain in the meantime, financially and on our research mission, is intense.”

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also commented on the new review of UW.

“No institution that tolerates violence, harassment, or the open intimidation of Jewish students should expect to receive billions in taxpayer support,” he said. “This isn’t about politics — it’s about whether a federally funded university is upholding the law, protecting civil rights, and fostering a safe environment for all students.”