DOJ Files Lawsuit Against UCLA Alleging Antisemitic Hostile Work Environment for Jewish and Israeli Employees

This article has been updated to include comments from Mary Osako, UCLA Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications

The U.S. Department of Justice filed an 81-page civil complaint (see below) on Tuesday, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the Regents of the University of California, alleging that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by permitting a hostile work environment based on religion and national origin for Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff.

The lawsuit, brought by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, claims that following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, antisemitic acts became pervasive at UCLA. The complaint asserts that the university engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination by failing to prevent, investigate, or correct severe and pervasive harassing conduct directed at Jewish and Israeli employees.

According to the filing, UCLA administrators allegedly “turned a blind eye to — and at times facilitated — grossly antisemitic acts and systematically ignored cries for help from its own terrified Jewish and Israeli employees.” 

Specific examples cited include:

• Chalkboard messages in classrooms targeting Jewish professors who signed a “UCLA Faculty Against Terror” letter, with statements such as “Look up Jewish Journal 300+ profs against terror,” which faculty reasonably perceived as intimidation attempts.
• Use of antisemitic slurs, including the word “kike,” reported in departmental settings.
• Broader campus incidents during pro-Palestinian protests, including prolonged encampments and harassment that created an intimidating atmosphere.

The complaint notes that UCLA’s own Task Force on Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias concluded that the university’s response failures constituted a hostile work environment under Title VII. It further alleges that dozens of civil rights complaints from Jewish and Israeli employees were ignored until the DOJ issued a notice of investigation in March 2025. UCLA’s anti-discrimination policies were described as poorly designed and maintained, hindering effective reporting and resolution.

The suit seeks injunctive relief to eliminate the alleged hostile environment, require policy reforms, training, and monitoring, and provide other appropriate remedies. It does not specify monetary damages but emphasizes the need to protect employees from ongoing harassment.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated: “Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent anti-Semitism to flourish on campus, harming students and staff alike. Today’s lawsuit underscores that this Department of Justice stands strong against hate and antisemitism in all its vile forms.”

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon added: “The litany of vile acts of antisemitism that allegedly took place, and continue to take place, at UCLA are, if found to be true, a mark of shame against the University of California. The Justice Department will ensure that UCLA maintains an environment for its employees free from antisemitic harassment.”

This action follows prior DOJ involvement with UCLA. In July 2025, the department found UCLA in violation of Title VI for failing to address a hostile educational environment for Jewish students, leading to suspensions of federal research funding and other measures. UCLA later settled a related private lawsuit brought by Jewish students and a professor for $6.13 million, agreeing to policy changes and a permanent court order.

UCLA has previously stated that antisemitism has no place on campus and that it has implemented measures to address concerns, including strengthened policies and compliance efforts. University officials have not yet issued a formal response to the February 24 lawsuit.

“As Chancellor Frenk has made clear: Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place at UCLA or anywhere. Under his leadership, UCLA has taken concrete and significant steps to strengthen campus safety, enforce policies, and combat antisemitism in a systemic and sustained manner. We recruited an Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus and Community Safety and made substantial investments to enhance coordination, preparedness, and response. We established the Initiative to Combat Antisemitism with a clear mandate to implement meaningful institutional change. We reorganized our Office of Civil Rights and hired a dedicated Title VI/Title VII officer to ensure professionalized oversight and accountability. We adopted strengthened Time, Place, and Manner policies to protect both free expression and campus operations. And, pursuant to the Frankel settlement, we are providing support to community organizations engaged in combating antisemitism.

These ongoing and long-standing institutional efforts, including clear expectations and a commitment to enforcement, are working. We stand firmly by the decisive actions we have taken to combat antisemitism in all its forms, and we will vigorously defend our efforts and our unwavering commitment to providing a safe, inclusive environment for all members of our community,” Mary Osaka said in an emailed statement to the California Globe.