Washington, DC (May 19, 2026)

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the creation of a new Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee, a federal panel that will provide guidance to the Attorney General and senior Justice Department officials on efforts to confront antisemitic threats, harassment, and violence across the country.

The committee is expected to bring together citizen leaders, community advocates, and subject matter experts with experience in public safety, civil rights, law enforcement, education, and Jewish communal security. Its role will be to help identify practical strategies for preventing antisemitic incidents, improving response coordination, and supporting communities facing heightened threats.

The advisory body will work alongside the Justice Department’s broader efforts to address antisemitism, including initiatives focused on schools, college campuses, public spaces, and local communities. Officials say the goal is to strengthen communication between federal agencies, local leaders, law enforcement, and affected communities so that threats can be addressed more quickly and effectively.

The committee will be led by Leo Terrell, who chairs the Justice Department’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. Under his leadership, the new panel is expected to review policy options, recommend enforcement priorities, and help develop solutions aimed at improving safety for Jewish Americans and other communities targeted by hate.

The announcement comes amid continued concern over rising antisemitic incidents nationwide, including harassment, threats, vandalism, campus unrest, and attacks connected to Jewish identity or support for Israel. Community leaders have repeatedly called for stronger federal coordination and clearer accountability for those who engage in hate-fueled intimidation or violence.

Justice Department officials say the committee will support a more proactive approach to civil rights enforcement, with an emphasis on protecting constitutional rights, responding to credible threats, and ensuring that extremists who break the law are held accountable.

For Jewish communities across the United States, the formation of the committee represents another step in the federal response to a climate of fear and uncertainty that has intensified in recent years. Its effectiveness will depend on whether its recommendations lead to meaningful action, improved security, and a stronger sense of protection for those facing antisemitic hate.