DOJ Launches 15-City Tour And New Advisory Committee To Combat Antisemitism

The U.S. Department of Justice announced today the launch of a new nationwide campaign against antisemitism, including a 15-city outreach tour and a new federal advisory committee that will help shape the Trump administration’s response to anti-Jewish incidents across the country.

The initiative will be led by Leo Terrell, senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights and chair of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. According to the department, the effort will focus on coordination between federal agencies, local law enforcement, schools and Jewish communities amid continued concerns over rising antisemitic incidents following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The Justice Department said the newly announced Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee will serve as a federal advisory body tasked with recommending “coordinated, timely, and effective responses to antisemitism” to Attorney General leadership. Committee members will be made up of “citizen leaders” from different backgrounds and will require presidential approval.

At the same time, Terrell will begin what the DOJ called a “National Awareness & Action Tour,” during which he plans to meet with Jewish community leaders, faith groups, local officials and law enforcement agencies in cities across the United States.

“This national tour is an important step in ensuring communities across the country know the federal government stands ready to work with them to confront antisemitic threats, protect public safety, and uphold civil rights,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

According to DOJ materials released alongside the announcement, the initiative will focus on increasing reporting of antisemitic incidents, strengthening cooperation between Jewish communities and law enforcement, building interfaith partnerships and addressing antisemitism in K-12 schools and teachers unions.

Assistant Attorney General Stanley Woodward said Jewish Americans “deserve to live, work, worship, and send their children to school without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence.”

In an interview with Jewish Insider, Terrell said he believes many of the failures to address antisemitism are occurring at the local level, including in city governments, school districts and prosecutors’ offices.

“My position is that antisemitism is a local issue,” Terrell said. “What I mean by that is, we see the results of failures to address it at the local level.”

Terrell specifically pointed to what he described as “absentee” mayors, district attorneys and school boards in some major cities, saying part of the initiative would involve encouraging Jewish communities to become more involved in local elections and political pressure campaigns.

“We’re talking about going to Jewish communities, first of all, to light a fire under them,” Terrell said.

The DOJ official also said the administration is seeking long-term solutions that would continue beyond President Donald Trump’s current term in office.

“This is not an advisory council that’s going to write a report that collects dust,” Terrell said. “I’m not in for that, I’m in for finding working solutions.”

The new initiatives mark the latest expansion of the Trump administration’s broader antisemitism campaign, which since 2025 has included federal investigations into universities, pressure campaigns tied to federal funding and increased scrutiny of antisemitic activity on campuses and in public institutions.

The schedule for the 15-city tour is still being finalized, according to Terrell, who said additional cities could be added in the coming months.