An article fromEEOC opens antisemitism probe into NEA, Brandeis Center says

The center’s complaint alleges the teachers union didn’t specify Jews as the primary victims of the Holocaust, among other things.

Published June 23, 2026Naaz Modan Senior Reporter

• Share
  • Copy link
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • X/Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
• License
• Add us on Google

The exterior of U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is seen on Sept. 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C. EEOC opened an investigation into the National Education Association over antisemitism allegations, according to the Louis D. Brandeis Center. Caroline Colvin/Higher Ed Dive

First published on

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has opened an investigation into the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, over antisemitism allegations, the Louis D. Brandeis Center — which filed the allegations — announced Monday.

EEOC opened its investigation almost two months after the Brandeis Center's Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism filed a complaint alleging that NEA created a hostile environment for its former and current Jewish members. 

In an email Monday, EEOC said it could "neither confirm nor deny the existence [of] any charge or charge inquiry." 

"Under federal law, both charges filed with, and charge inquires made to the EEOC are confidential," the EEOC spokesperson said. 

if (window.dfp_visibility === 'mobile' ) googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.defineSlot( '/3618/highereddive/highereddivehybrid1', [[300, 250], 'fluid'], 'dfp-hybrid1-mobile' ).addService(googletag.pubads()); ); waitToLoadAds.push(function() googletag.cmd.push(function() if (window.dfp_visibility === 'mobile' ) window.onDvtagReady?.(() => googletag.display('dfp-hybrid1-mobile')); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function (event) var adUnitPath = '/3618/highereddive/highereddivehybrid1'; var onProformative = false; if (onProformative && event.slot.getAdUnitPath() === adUnitPath && !event.isEmpty ) var adUnitPathWithVisibility = adUnitPath + '-mobile'; var selector = '.pf-comments__ad-wrapper #dfp-hybrid1-mobile'; if (!$(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').hasClass('borders')) $(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').addClass('borders') ); ); ); if (window.dfp_visibility === 'desktop' ) googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.defineSlot( '/3618/highereddive/highereddivehybrid2', [[300, 250], 'fluid'], 'dfp-hybrid2-desktop' ).addService(googletag.pubads()); ); waitToLoadAds.push(function() googletag.cmd.push(function() if (window.dfp_visibility === 'desktop' ) window.onDvtagReady?.(() => googletag.display('dfp-hybrid2-desktop')); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function (event) var adUnitPath = '/3618/highereddive/highereddivehybrid2'; var onProformative = false; if (onProformative && event.slot.getAdUnitPath() === adUnitPath && !event.isEmpty ) var adUnitPathWithVisibility = adUnitPath + '-desktop'; var selector = '.pf-comments__ad-wrapper #dfp-hybrid2-desktop'; if (!$(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').hasClass('borders')) $(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').addClass('borders') ); ); );

The Brandeis Center, however, said the investigation is open in the federal agency's Washington, D.C., Field Office. Investigators, the center said, have collected documents, witness information and other materials provided by Brandeis in support of the charges. 

The Brandeis complaint alleges: 

• NEA's handbook failed to mention Jews as the primary victims of the Holocaust, and instead pointed to "more than 12 million victims of the Holocaust from different faiths, ethnicities, races, political beliefs, genders, and gender identification, abilities/disabilities, and other targeted characteristics.” 
• NEA, in October 2025, sent a mass email to its nearly 3 million members that included a modern-day map of Israel's boundaries labeled as Palestine, as part of celebrating “indigenous lands” and sharing resources to teach students about “land we occupy." 
• Jewish delegates for NEA's annual 2025 Representative Assembly — the union’s principal governing body — were physically surrounded and shouted at by anti-Israel protestors.

"Unions exist to advocate for fair wages, protect employee rights, and ensure equal treatment for all members,” said Kenneth Marcus, founder and CEO of the Brandeis Center, in a Monday statement. Marcus was a longtime Education Department employee at the Office for Civil Rights, and also ran the civil rights arm under the Bush and first Trump administrations. “The last thing they should do is to violate the rights of the very people whose rights they exist to protect." 

NEA did not respond to a request for comment by press time on Monday.

However, in a May 5 statement to K-12 Dive responding to the original complaint, NEA said it “does not tolerate antisemitism in any form and remains committed to ensuring that all members and students, including Jewish members and students, can work and learn in a safe and welcoming environment.”

“We always ensure our meeting rules and programs serve and support all members, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, background, sexual orientation, or gender identity,” said the spokesperson in an email.

The organization also released a statement in October 2025 regarding the map in its mass email. “It has come to our attention that an external resource that was linked to on NEA’s website, which has been widely used by many news outlets and organizations for many years, falls well short of our standards," NEA said. 

if (window.dfp_visibility === 'mobile' ) googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.defineSlot( '/3618/highereddive/highereddivehybrid2', [[300, 250], 'fluid'], 'dfp-hybrid2-mobile' ).addService(googletag.pubads()); ); waitToLoadAds.push(function() googletag.cmd.push(function() if (window.dfp_visibility === 'mobile' ) window.onDvtagReady?.(() => googletag.display('dfp-hybrid2-mobile')); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function (event) var adUnitPath = '/3618/highereddive/highereddivehybrid2'; var onProformative = false; if (onProformative && event.slot.getAdUnitPath() === adUnitPath && !event.isEmpty ) var adUnitPathWithVisibility = adUnitPath + '-mobile'; var selector = '.pf-comments__ad-wrapper #dfp-hybrid2-mobile'; if (!$(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').hasClass('borders')) $(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').addClass('borders') ); ); );

"After we became aware of content on this external website — particularly related to Israel and Palestine — we conducted our own deeper review including of links to additional third-party hosted content. Upon that review, we immediately removed this resource from the NEA website," NEA said.

EEOC's decision to open the complaint — which the Brandeis Center labeled as "prompt" in its Monday announcement — comes as the Trump administration cracks down on antisemitism allegations, including at K-12 and higher education institutions. 

In April, the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into the New York City Department of Education over allegations of discrimination against Jewish students from actions by a group of pro-Palestinian teachers who held a “teaching seminar” series on “Palestine, Zionism, and Resistance.” 

In addition, antisemitism remains a concern for school leaders. According to a report released by the Anti-Defamation League in May, incidents at non-Jewish K-12 schools remained relatively level in 2025 compared to 2024, despite a significant decline in antisemitic incidents in the nation overall between those years. 

Recommended Reading

• National Education Association faces EEOC antisemitism complaint By Naaz Modan • May 7, 2026

• Add us on Google
• Share
  • Copy link
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • X/Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • License

Filed Under: Legal /* Keep this hidden until we need to show the v2 challenge. */ .captcha-container display: none; (function () /* Signup reCAPTCHA flow (v3-first, v2-fallback): - On submit, we run existing form validation first. - Then we execute reCAPTCHA v3 and send token+action to /signup/recaptcha-v3-score/. - If backend verification succeeds and score is above 0.5 , we submit normally. - If score is below 0.5 or v3 errors, we show the v2 checkbox challenge and submit after solve. - Per-form dataset flags prevent duplicate wiring/submits and track v2 waiting state. */ // This partial can show up more than once, so keep config per instance. var config = key: 'generic_signup', formSelector: 'form.js\u002Dform\u002Demail\u002Dvalidate[name\u003D\u0022signup\u0022]', v2ContainerSelector: '.captcha-container', v2ElementSelector: '.g-recaptcha', submitAction: 'signup_submit', pageAction: 'signup_page_load', runExistingValidation: true, scoreThreshold: 0.5, v2SiteKey: '6LfnFggUAAAAAKaDTgN6vqjZtnNENIqa\u002D\u002DTCG9F4', v3SiteKey: '6Lc\u002DlpYsAAAAAMhweO3XD1__w\u002DvHSSOVRRpARwEM' ; // Save each config globally so one bootstrap pass can wire them all. window._signupRecaptchaConfigs = window._signupRecaptchaConfigs )(); Higher Ed Dive news delivered to your inbox

Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts

Email:

• Select user consent: By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at anytime.

Sign up A valid email address is required. Please select at least one newsletter.Editors' picks

• The image by Wv funnyman is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0Marshall University to cut 7 programs, expand others

  The public West Virginia institution’s tweaks to its offerings follow a state-mandated review and come amid an effort to shrink its deficit.

  By Ben Unglesbee • June 12, 2026
• The image by Radhika Kshirsagar is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0University of Maryland lays off 84 employees amid budget pressures

  The public institution is facing federal and state funding cuts in addition to higher energy costs and slowing endowment returns.

  By Ben Unglesbee • June 5, 2026

/* Keep this hidden until we need to show the v2 challenge. */ .captcha-container display: none; (function () []; window._signupRecaptchaConfigs.push(config); // If we've already initialized once, skip doing it again. if (window._signupRecaptchaBootstrapped) return; window._signupRecaptchaBootstrapped = true; // Strip odd characters so this is safe for dataset keys/callback names. function safeKey(str) 'default').replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_]/g, ''); // Load v3 for scoring and v2 for the fallback challenge. function loadRecaptchaScripts(v3SiteKey) if (!document.getElementById('signup-recaptcha-v2-script')) var v2Script = document.createElement('script'); v2Script.id = 'signup-recaptcha-v2-script'; v2Script.src = 'https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js'; v2Script.defer = true; document.head.appendChild(v2Script); if (!document.getElementById('signup-recaptcha-v3-script')) var v3Script = document.createElement('script'); v3Script.id = 'signup-recaptcha-v3-script'; v3Script.src = 'https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?render=' + encodeURIComponent(v3SiteKey); v3Script.defer = true; document.head.appendChild(v3Script); // Get a v3 token, then let our backend verify and score it. function runV3AndScore(v3SiteKey, actionName) return grecaptcha.execute(v3SiteKey, action: actionName ) .then(function(token) return fetch('/signup/recaptcha-v3-score/', method: 'POST', headers: 'Content-Type': 'application/json' , body: JSON.stringify( token: token, action: actionName ) ); ) .then(function(res) return res.json(); ); // Wire recaptcha behavior to each form this config points to. function wireConfig(config, configIndex) var forms = document.querySelectorAll(config.formSelector); forms.forEach(function(form, formIndex) // Keep track of whether this form is wired/passed/already waiting on v2. var key = safeKey(config.key + '_' + configIndex + '_' + formIndex); var wiredFlag = 'recaptchaWired' + key; var passedFlag = 'recaptchaPassed' + key; var awaitingFlag = 'awaitingV2Challenge' + key; if (form.dataset[wiredFlag] === 'true') return; form.dataset[wiredFlag] = 'true'; var recaptchaElement = form.querySelector(config.v2ElementSelector); var widgetId = null; var v2WatcherInterval = null; // First check the widget API, then fall back to hidden textarea values. function getV2Response() var response = ''; try response = widgetId !== null ? grecaptcha.getResponse(widgetId) : grecaptcha.getResponse(); catch (e) response = ''; if (!response) var textareaInForm = form.querySelector('textarea[name="g-recaptcha-response"]'); var globalTextarea = document.querySelector('textarea[name="g-recaptcha-response"]'); if (textareaInForm && textareaInForm.value) response = textareaInForm.value; else if (globalTextarea && globalTextarea.value) response = globalTextarea.value; return response; // Once verified, mark the form so the submit handler lets it pass. function submitVerifiedForm() if (form.dataset[passedFlag] === 'true') return; form.dataset[passedFlag] = 'true'; if (form.closest('.inline-signup')) if (window.jQuery) window.jQuery(form).triggerHandler('recaptcha:verified'); var inlineContainer = form.querySelector(config.v2ContainerSelector); if (inlineContainer) inlineContainer.style.display = 'none'; form.submit(); // Show the v2 challenge and poll until we see a response token. function beginV2Challenge() form.dataset[awaitingFlag] = 'true'; var container = form.querySelector(config.v2ContainerSelector); if (container) container.style.display = 'block'; if (v2WatcherInterval) clearInterval(v2WatcherInterval); v2WatcherInterval = setInterval(function() if (form.dataset[passedFlag] === 'true') clearInterval(v2WatcherInterval); return; var response = getV2Response(); if (response) clearInterval(v2WatcherInterval); submitVerifiedForm(); , 250); // Render the v2 widget only when the element exists on this form. if (recaptchaElement) var callbackName = 'onSignupRecaptchaV2Success_' + key; window[callbackName] = function() submitVerifiedForm(); ; recaptchaElement.setAttribute('data-callback', callbackName); try widgetId = grecaptcha.render(recaptchaElement, sitekey: config.v2SiteKey, callback: function() submitVerifiedForm(); ); catch (e) // Main flow: validation first, then v3 score check, then v2 fallback if needed. form.addEventListener('submit', function(event) if (form.dataset[passedFlag] === 'true') return; event.preventDefault(); if (config.runExistingValidation && window.jQuery) var validationEvent = jQuery.Event('submit'); $(form).triggerHandler(validationEvent); if (validationEvent.isDefaultPrevented()) return; if (form.dataset[awaitingFlag] === 'true') if (getV2Response()) submitVerifiedForm(); else beginV2Challenge(); return; grecaptcha.ready(function() runV3AndScore(config.v3SiteKey, config.submitAction) .then(function(data) var score = Number(data && data.score); var recaptchaSuccess = Boolean(data && (data.recaptcha_success ) .catch(function() // If v3 fails (network/API), still let real users complete v2. beginV2Challenge(); ); ); ); // Run a quiet v3 check on page load in the background. //grecaptcha.ready(function() // runV3AndScore(config.v3SiteKey, config.pageAction).catch(function() ); //); ); // Wire everything once grecaptcha is available. function setupAllConfigs() if (typeof grecaptcha === 'undefined') return false; window._signupRecaptchaConfigs.forEach(function(config, index) wireConfig(config, index); ); return true; document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() ); )();

Keep up with the story. Subscribe to the Higher Ed Dive free daily newsletter

Email:

• Select user consent: By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at anytime.

Sign up A valid email address is required. Please select at least one newsletter. var siteName = 'Higher Ed Dive' || null; if (siteName) setupFormCallbackAndCreateFormIfSub(siteName, 'inline'); $(document).ready(function () // copy the contents of the generic_signup partial into the desktop_signup_spot $desktop_signup_spot = $("#desktop-inline-signup"); $desktop_signup = $("#inline-signup-html-desktop").children(); $desktop_signup_spot.append($desktop_signup); $("#inline-signup-html-desktop").remove(); );