A House committee has recently issued stern warnings to Fairfax County, Virginia; Berkeley, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, indicating that these major U.S. jurisdictions could face a loss of federal funding. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce sent letters on Monday, citing concerns over the localities' alleged failure to adequately address antisemitism within their educational systems, as reported by Frannie Block. This action underscores a growing federal push to ensure compliance with civil rights laws amidst rising antisemitic incidents.
The original warning, issued by the House committee and reported by The Free Press, stated:
"A House committee warned Fairfax County, Virginia; Berkeley, California; and Philadelphia in letters sent Monday that they could lose federal funding if they failed to address antisemitism, writes Frannie Block."
The warnings target specific issues within each jurisdiction. In Fairfax County, the committee raised questions about a proposed "anti-bias" curriculum that critics argue contains antisemitic elements. Berkeley's warning stemmed from documented instances of antisemitic harassment at public schools and a perceived lack of timely intervention by school officials. For Philadelphia, the committee highlighted reports of antisemitic content in school materials and an alleged insufficient response to student complaints.
Chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), the House Committee on Education and the Workforce has been actively investigating antisemitism in educational institutions since the October 7th attacks in Israel. This initiative involves scrutinizing how universities and K-12 school districts, and now the local governments overseeing them, are complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. The committee has emphasized that federal funds are contingent on upholding these civil rights protections.
In response to the committee's letters, officials from all three jurisdictions have acknowledged receipt and affirmed their commitment to fostering inclusive and safe environments. Fairfax County Public Schools, Berkeley Unified School District, and the School District of Philadelphia each stated they are reviewing the committee's concerns and plan to provide detailed responses outlining their existing policies and future actions to combat antisemitism. These statements reiterated their dedication to complying with all federal civil rights laws, without directly addressing specific allegations in their initial public comments.