The Trump administration announced on Friday that it is withdrawing $400 million in funding from Columbia University, canceling grants and contracts due to the university’s alleged failure to address antisemitism on its campus. This decision came just five days after federal agencies revealed they were contemplating halting $51 million in contracts with the university and reviewing its eligibility for over $5 billion in future federal grants. The move followed Columbia’s establishment of a new disciplinary committee and an increase in investigations into students critical of Israel, which raised concerns among free speech advocates.
However, the government’s actions suggest that Columbia’s efforts were not sufficient.
“Universities must adhere to all federal antidiscrimination laws if they want to receive federal funding. For far too long, Columbia has neglected this responsibility toward Jewish students on its campus,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon in a statement.
She later shared on social media that she had a “productive meeting” with Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, and looked forward to collaborating with the university to ensure the protection of all students.
Columbia responded by pledging to work with the government in an attempt to restore the lost funding. Columbia University responded by emphasizing its commitment to addressing antisemitism and ensuring the safety of its community. In a statement, the university acknowledged the seriousness of the announcement and reiterated its dedication to meeting its legal obligations. Columbia expressed its resolve to combat antisemitism and to prioritize the well-being of its students, faculty, and staff.
The impact of the $400 million funding cut on specific research, projects, or activities at Columbia University remains unclear, especially considering the institution’s extensive operations, including its medical center. The university stated that it is reviewing the announcement. An inquiry has been sent to the U.S. Department of Education, which made the announcement alongside the Health and Justice departments and the General Services Administration.
While the full details are still unknown, the announcement comes at a time when Columbia researchers are finalizing their budgets for the upcoming academic year, leaving some, like oceanographer Robert Newton, deeply concerned about the potential effects. Newton, a retired senior research scientist who continues to teach at Columbia and is Jewish, disagrees with the government’s claims, calling them “a complete falsehood” regarding the university’s handling of antisemitism.
On the other hand, the funding cut was praised by Columbia/Barnard Hillel, a Jewish student group. Executive Director Brian Cohen hoped the move would serve as a “wake-up call” for the university to take antisemitism and the harassment of Jewish students and faculty seriously.
The New York Civil Liberties Union’s executive director, Donna Lieberman, criticized the decision, labeling it an unconstitutional attempt to pressure colleges and universities into censoring student speech and advocacy that doesn’t align with certain political views, such as criticism of Israel or support for Palestinian rights. A message seeking comment was also sent to a coalition of pro-Palestinian protest groups.
Columbia University is the first to face such a measure as part of President Donald Trump’s broader campaign to reduce federal funding to institutions accused of tolerating antisemitism, which has gained momentum since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023.
Columbia University was a central hub for U.S. campus protests regarding the Israel-Hamas war last spring. In April, pro-Palestinian demonstrators established an encampment on campus, sparking a wave of similar protests at other universities. At Columbia, protesters later seized a campus building, leading to dozens of arrests when police intervened to clear the building.
As tensions escalated, congressional Republicans pressed Columbia’s then-President Minouche Shafik on how the university was handling antisemitism. Shafik expressed her personal commitment to confronting the issue but resigned just four months later.
In the weeks that followed, a university task force reported that Jewish and Israeli students at Columbia were being ostracized from student organizations, humiliated in classrooms, and subjected to verbal abuse during the spring protests.
More recently, a smaller group of demonstrators briefly occupied buildings at Barnard College, affiliated with Columbia, in protest of the expulsion of two students accused of disrupting an Israeli history class. Several students were arrested during a takeover of a building on Wednesday.
Many involved in the protests argue that criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza or showing support for Palestinians is not antisemitic. Some students, along with their attorney, view the university’s recent disciplinary actions as an attempt to appease the government by suppressing pro-Palestinian speech.
Columbia is one of several universities now under federal investigation for antisemitism. Other institutions facing scrutiny include the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University.