A federal enforcement tug-of-war intensified this week as the University of Pennsylvania publicly rebuked a federal demand for lists of Jewish staff and internal Education Department data show a sharp drop in sexual-violence investigations. Penn’s protest framed a legal contest over government demands for employee data, while the department’s reduced investigatory footprint has left campuses with fewer federal avenues for victims seeking redress. The University of Pennsylvania rejected a federal request for lists of Jewish employees, calling the demand reminiscent of a ‘‘frightening’’ historical precedent; the dispute signals a broader fight over civil‑rights enforcement and privacy on campus. At the same time the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights — shrunken after major layoffs — opened fewer than 10 sexual‑violence investigations nationwide last year, internal data examined by the Associated Press show. The combination creates a double bind for campus leaders: legal fights over federal information demands increase institutional risk, even as fewer investigators remain to enforce Title IX and civil‑rights protections. Students and lawyers warn the staffing and policy shifts effectively narrow enforcement options for reported sexual violence and other discrimination claims.