The Trump administration has announced an investigation into security protocols at Brown University following a mass shooting that left two students dead and nine injured on campus.
The U.S. Department of Education initiated the probe to determine whether Brown violated the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, federal legislation requiring institutions to meet specific safety and security standards for receiving student financial aid.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated in a formal announcement: “Students deserve to feel safe at school, and every university across this nation must protect their students and be equipped with adequate resources to aid law enforcement.” She emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring universities utilizing federal funds strictly adhere to mandated security requirements.
McMahon cited reports indicating Brown University’s surveillance system may have been inadequate during the incident, allowing the suspect to flee while the institution faced challenges providing timely information about the alleged shooter.
Brown University placed its chief police officer, Rodney Chatman, on administrative leave effective immediately. President Christina Paxson confirmed that Hugh T. Clements, former chief of police for the Providence Police Department, will serve as interim head of campus security and oversee an after-action review of the shooting. The university also announced plans to implement enhanced security measures ahead of the Spring 2026 semester and conduct a comprehensive campus safety assessment in the coming weeks.