The Trump administration announced Friday that it had canceled $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University, citing the school’s alleged failure to adequately address antisemitism on campus
The decision, announced by the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ), Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED), and the General Services Administration (GSA), marks the administration’s latest action against the Ivy League institution.
Officials said the move was prompted by student-led protests at Columbia against Israel’s military actions in Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The assault resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 251 hostages. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed an estimated 48,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the demonstrations as antisemitic and accused the university of failing to take sufficient action. Protesters, however, argue their opposition is directed at the Israeli government rather than Jewish people.
“Since Oct. 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses – only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them,” McMahon said.
“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding,” she added. “For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”
A Columbia spokesperson, in a statement, said the school is “reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia’s federal funding.”
“We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff,” they added.
The move follows a warning earlier this week from McMahon that Columbia could face a loss of federal funding if it failed to take stronger measures against antisemitism on campus.
Leo Terrell, senior counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and head of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, said freezing federal funds is one of the “tools” the administration is using to fight antisemitism and that its action targeting Columbia is “only the beginning.”
“Cancelling these taxpayer funds is our strongest signal yet that the Federal Government is not going to be party to an educational institution like Columbia that does not protect Jewish students and staff,” Terrell said.
The protests at Columbia, which began last spring, sparked similar demonstrations at college campuses across the country. The Columbia protests reached a head when the NYPD stormed the university, breaking up an encampment on the campus lawn, clearing out a building protesters had seized, and making mass arrests.
Just this week, pro-Palestinian protesters took over a building at Barnard College, which is affiliated with Columbia. The NYPD on Wednesday moved into the building, broke up the protest, and made arrests.
