U.S. Department of Justice  ·  Office of Public Affairs
Official Press Release  ·  Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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  • 🏛New Body: Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee (ASAC) formally announced
  • 👤Chair: Leo Terrell, Chair of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism
  • 📋Mission: Provide recommendations to the Attorney General on addressing rising antisemitism nationwide
  • 📜Authority: Built on Executive Orders 13899 and 14188 — both signed by President Trump
  • Members: Citizen leaders dedicated to combating antisemitism, subject to presidential approval

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced Tuesday the forthcoming launch of the Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee (ASAC), a landmark new advisory body that will provide recommendations to the Attorney General and Department of Justice leadership on strategies to address what officials described as a rising tide of antisemitism across the United States. The initiative builds directly on President Donald Trump’s executive directives instructing the federal government to use every available legal tool to protect Jewish Americans and confront antisemitic discrimination and violence.

The announcement marks a significant escalation in the federal government’s institutional response to antisemitism — elevating the fight from a task force into a formally constituted advisory committee with direct access to the nation’s top law enforcement official. Leo Terrell, who chairs the DOJ Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism and serves as Senior Counsel at the Justice Department, will lead the new committee.

LT
“One of my big announcements!”

Acting AG Blanche: “A Top Priority for This Administration”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the formation of the committee and thanked Leo Terrell for his leadership in carrying out the administration’s mission to combat antisemitism across every branch of the Justice Department.

TB
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Acting Attorney General  ·  U.S. Department of Justice  ·  @DAGToddBlanche
“President Trump has made combating antisemitism a top priority for this Administration, and we thank Leo Terrell for his leadership at the Department of Justice in helping to carry out this mission. Protecting civil rights of every American remains a core responsibility of the Department of Justice.”

Associate AG Woodward: “Every Tool Available”

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who holds supervisory responsibility for overseeing the Department’s respect for religious liberty in litigation, underscored that the administration views the ASAC not as a symbolic gesture but as an operational instrument — one backed by the full force of federal law.

SW
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Associate AG for Religious Liberty  ·  U.S. DOJ  ·  @ASGWoodward
“President Trump has made combating antisemitism a national priority because no American should live in fear because of their faith. This Administration is using every tool available to confront antisemitic threats, support local communities, and ensure that radical activists and violent extremists do not intimidate law-abiding Americans. The Department of Justice will act aggressively to protect civil rights and uphold public safety.”

“No American should live in fear because of their faith.”

— Associate AG Stanley Woodward, U.S. Department of Justice

What Is the ASAC — and How Will It Work?

The Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee will bring together citizen leaders from a wide range of backgrounds who share a common goal: developing innovative, coordinated strategies to address antisemitism across every level of American society. Committee members are subject to approval by the President, ensuring the body operates with the full confidence and mandate of the White House.

New Advisory Body Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee (ASAC) — Department of Justice
  • 1 Leadership: Chaired by Leo Terrell, Chair of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism and Senior Counsel at the Department of Justice.
  • 2 Mission: Provide advice and recommendations to the Attorney General and DOJ leadership on coordinated, timely, and effective responses to antisemitism nationwide.
  • 3 Composition: Citizen leaders from diverse backgrounds dedicated to combating antisemitism — subject to approval by the President.
  • 4 Scope: Combating antisemitism consistent with the United States’ policy and the DOJ’s civil rights mission across all communities and institutions.

Building on Executive Action

The ASAC builds directly on two presidential Executive Orders: Executive Order 13899 (Combating Anti-Semitism) and Executive Order 14188 (Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism), both signed by President Trump. Together, these orders directed all relevant federal agencies to treat antisemitism as a form of unlawful discrimination and to marshal the full resources of the federal government in its combat.

📜 Presidential Executive Orders on Antisemitism

President Trump’s Executive Order 14188, titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” can be found in full at whitehouse.gov. The orders direct the federal government to use every available legal tool to protect Jewish Americans and confront antisemitic discrimination and violence across institutions — from college campuses to city streets.

✦ AMMWEC Lauds Formation of DOJ Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee

The American Muslim Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) has lauded the formation of the Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee, welcoming it as a landmark step in the federal government’s commitment to protecting Jewish Americans and all communities of faith from hatred and discrimination. AMMWEC’s leadership expressed strong support for Leo Terrell’s chairmanship of the committee and called the announcement a powerful signal that fighting antisemitism is not a partisan cause — it is an American one, rooted in the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and freedom of worship for every citizen, of every faith.

How to Report Antisemitic Discrimination

The Department of Justice reminded the public that anyone who has been discriminated against may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division directly.

A Historic Step in the Fight Against Hatred

The formation of the ASAC represents the most institutionally significant federal action on antisemitism to date — transforming what began as an executive task force into a permanent advisory structure embedded within the Department of Justice itself. With Leo Terrell at its helm and the full backing of Acting Attorney General Blanche and Associate Attorney General Woodward, the committee is positioned to become a consequential force in shaping federal policy, supporting local communities, and holding accountable those who use hatred and violence to target Jewish Americans.

Faith & Freedom News commends the Department of Justice for this historic announcement and will continue to report on the work of the Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee and the broader federal effort to protect religious freedom and civil rights for all Americans.