Education Department Opens Federal Review of UC Berkeley After Turning Point USA Protest

The U.S. Department of Education has launched a federal review of campus safety practices at the University of California, Berkeley following a protest at a Turning Point USA event on November 10. The review, announced by the department on Tuesday, comes amid heightened federal scrutiny of colleges and universities.

Scope of the review

The department’s Office of Federal Student Aid will examine whether UC Berkeley complied with the Clery Act, a federal law that requires institutions receiving federal funding to collect and publish crime statistics, support victims of violence and disclose campus safety policies and procedures. The Education Department has asked the university to produce materials within 30 days, including daily crime logs and local police call records going back to 2022.

What happened at the event

The review is tied to demonstrations that took place during a campus appearance by Turning Point USA, the conservative student group founded by Charlie Kirk, an ally of President Trump. University officials said the campus reported a fistfight connected to an attempted robbery and an instance of someone being struck by a thrown object that evening. The campus deployed officers from multiple jurisdictions as well as contracted private security to protect safety and free-speech rights.

"UC Berkeley will cooperate fully with the review," said Dan Mogulof, an assistant vice chancellor at Berkeley. "UC Berkeley has an unwavering commitment to abide by the laws, rules and policies that are applicable to the university."

Related federal actions

The U.S. Department of Justice has also announced a separate investigation into the same Turning Point USA protest. The Education Department said the review will assess both ongoing compliance issues and the November 10 incident.

The action occurs against a broader backdrop of federal pressure on higher education. Since President Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, his administration has increased scrutiny of institutions it views as liberal-leaning—examining responses to campus protests, diversity and hiring practices, transgender policies, climate initiatives and more. The administration has sometimes canceled federal contracts or sought to withhold funding; courts have restored some funds after legal challenges.

The University of California system has been a frequent target of federal inquiries. In June, the Justice Department said it was reviewing the system’s hiring practices to determine whether efforts to increase faculty diversity might violate anti-discrimination laws. Earlier this year, UC Berkeley and other campuses were included on a list of institutions the Education Department said it was reviewing for alleged antisemitism.

By Helen Coster