Trump administration scraps subpoena for list of Penn’s Jewish employees
The Trump management has ceased efforts to compel the University of Pennsylvania to disclose the identities adn contact details of Jewish faculty and staff, thereby ending a legal dispute without resolving an ongoing inquiry into antisemitism at the institution. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced it was withdrawing a subpoena for information about Jewish employees, including those associated with Jewish campus organizations and Jewish Studies. Penn agreed to dismiss its appeal of a lower court ruling mandating compliance with the subpoena. Although the EEOC did not specify its reasons for the withdrawal, the investigation into potential religious discrimination and a opposed habitat remains open, and enforcement actions could still be pursued if laws were violated. Penn welcomed the decision, affirming that no personal information had been disclosed during the process and reaffirming its commitment to combating discrimination and antisemitism. The dispute originated after complaints related to antisemitism following the october 2023 Hamas attack and campus protests, with investigators seeking employee information to assess the situation. Penn had already provided extensive documentation but refused to turn over personal identifiers, citing privacy and constitutional concerns. A federal judge initially ruled the subpoena enforceable, but the case was later paused during appeals. The recent agreement concludes the litigation but the broader investigation continues.
The Trump administration has abandoned its effort to force the University of Pennsylvania to disclose the names and contact information of Jewish faculty and staff, ending a high-profile legal dispute while leaving a broader antisemitism investigation into the Ivy League school intact.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission informed the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday that it was withdrawing a subpoena issued last year seeking information about Jewish employees, including individuals affiliated with Jewish campus organizations and the school’s Jewish Studies program. In exchange, Penn agreed to dismiss its appeal of a lower court ruling that had required it to comply with the subpoena.
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The EEOC did not explain why it reversed course, but withdrawing the subpoena does not end the agency’s investigation into whether Jewish employees at Penn were subjected to religious discrimination or a hostile work environment. The commission could still pursue enforcement action against the university if it determines that federal law was violated.
Penn welcomed the decision, saying none of the personal information sought by the subpoena had been disclosed during the legal fight.
“The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has withdrawn its subpoena that demanded the disclosure of personal contact information and lists of Penn’s Jewish employees,” the university said in a statement. “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. Penn remains committed to fighting antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination, to ensure everyone it serves can learn, work, and thrive.”
The dispute stemmed from an EEOC investigation launched after complaints alleging Jewish employees faced discrimination in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the wave of campus protests that followed. Federal investigators argued they needed names, contact information, and other records to interview possible victims and determine whether the university adequately addressed complaints of antisemitism.
Penn said it had already produced nearly 900 pages of documents and offered to notify employees about the investigation, but refused to turn over personal identifying information, citing privacy and confidentiality concerns. The university also argued the subpoena threatened employees’ constitutional rights by compelling disclosures of religious affiliations.
A federal judge in Philadelphia ruled in March that the subpoena was enforceable because the requested information was relevant to the EEOC’s investigation, though he later paused the order while Penn appealed. Thursday’s agreement ends the litigation but leaves the underlying investigation unresolved.
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