Cardona refuses to condemn calls for universities to cut ties with Hillel in clash with lawmaker

Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Tuesday refused to condemn calls for universities to cut ties with Hillel organizations at a congressional hearing.

Cardona testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, drawing heated questions from lawmakers regarding the anti-Israel protests on college campuses.

Among the concerned lawmakers was Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., who flung a series of questions at Cardona to get him to make clear stances on certain incidents amid the uproar on college campuses due to the Gaza conflict. Before his barrage of questions, Kiley acknowledged a letter written by Cardona which entailed the secretary calling any incidents of violence and intimidation against Jewish students "abhorrent."

"As the 2023-24 school year comes to a close, I remain incredibly concerned by the reports of antisemitic hate directed at students on some campuses," the letter read.

Kiley tied the letter to what some would consider antisemitic demands from anti-Israel protesters for colleges to cut ties with Hillel International, which facilitates local Hillel chapters at 850 colleges globally.

Colleges and universities across the U.S. have a local Hillel community that serves as a faith-based Jewish educational resource. These organizations provide a social network and a place to develop leadership and professional skills for Jewish students.

"How about demands to cut ties with Hillel?" Kiley asked Cardona. "Do you condemn those demands to cut ties with Hillel at universities?" 

"There's guidance there [DOE's website] for universities where a lot of the questions you're asking makes it very clear," the secretary responded.

"Ok, but your letter said that certain things are abhorrent on campus. Would you say that’s one of them? Calls for universities to cut ties with Hillel, is that abhorrent, to use your word?" Kiley pressed.

"Violence toward students, antisemitism on campus which we’ve seen-" Cardona said before being cut-off mid-sentence by Kiley asking, "Mr. Secretary, you’re not willing to condemn calls to cut ties with Hillel? Will you condemn that, yes or no?" 

"We are responsible for adhering to Title 6 and enforcing it. And your support of our budget would help us get to that level instead of creating division as I said at the beginning of my call…" Cardona ducked the question again.