Trump Admin Drops Demand for Names of Jewish Penn Employees

The Trump administration on Thursday withdrew its subpoena demanding the names and contact information of Jewish employees at the University of Pennsylvania, signaling a step back in the administration’s ongoing investigation into alleged antisemitism at the Ivy League institution.

According to a resolution agreement filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission “will not take any further measures to enforce the subpoena seeking identification and personal contact information of employees of the University of Pennsylvania.” In return, the university agreed to drop its appeal and will not seek to vacate an earlier decision by a Pennsylvania district court judge that ordered the university to comply with the subpoena. 

“With the support of many members of the community who have stood with Penn throughout, the University has been able to protect its employees’ rights and none of the subpoenaed personal contact information was disclosed,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “Penn remains committed to fighting antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination, to ensure everyone it serves can learn, work and thrive.”

An EEOC spokesperson told Inside Higher Ed the commission “will decline to add anything beyond court filings.”