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Employers across the United States are often challenged to monitor workplace speech on sensitive current events while mitigating the risks of discrimination and harassment claims. Following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and the aftermath in Gaza, such challenges and risks have been ever-present.
The Trump administration’s attempts to address workplace anti-Semitism have not eliminated such concerns, and in some cases, they have increased the prevalence of sensitive workplace speech. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has similarly led to challenging workplace discussions, risking legal claims.
Employers should take care to sensitively address workplace political speech while mitigating potential risks. Let’s look at some summarizations of Trump administration actions addressing anti-Semitism, and survey lawsuits filed in the last two years by Jewish and Muslim plaintiffs.
See also: 3 ways to build a religiously inclusive work culture
Executive orders and EEOC guidance
After Oct. 7, 2023, the Trump administration expressed intent to combat anti-Semitism, including through an executive order forming a Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. In March 2025, the task force announced its investigation into the University of California system for potential Title VII violations stemming from “allowing an anti-Semitic, hostile work environment to exist on its campuses.” Notably,
