Trump slashes $400m in Columbia grants citing concerns over antisemitism
On Friday, the Trump administration announced the cancellation of $400 million in grants to Columbia University. This decision was attributed to the university's inability to safeguard Jewish students from antisemitism on campus, as stated on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
TroibNews 
The Trump administration announced on Friday the cancellation of $400 million in grants to Columbia University, citing the institution's inability to protect Jewish students from antisemitism on its campus, as detailed in a statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This decision came after an investigation by a Joint Task Force that included members from the Justice Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration. The task force concluded that the funding cuts were a result of "the school's continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."
Formed on February 3, the task force's creation followed an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 29, which put additional measures in place to address antisemitic harassment in educational settings.
While the statement did not specify which grants and contracts were impacted, it noted that the cuts would be drawn from over $5 billion in funding currently allocated to Columbia University.
Trump previously warned in a social media post that he intended to withdraw funding from educational institutions that permit "illegal protests." He stated, "All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested."
Linda McMahon, the recently confirmed U.S. education secretary, commented on the federal grant cancellations, suggesting that Columbia had not met federal anti-discrimination standards. "Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation and antisemitic harassment on their campuses – only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them," McMahon remarked. "Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. 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."
The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, which escalated after Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, has resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza and extensive destruction. Columbia University became a focal point for pro-Palestine protests against Israel, with students organizing encampments and demonstrations that led to numerous arrests.
Columbia spokesperson Samantha Slater expressed the institution's commitment to working with the federal government to restore its funding. "We take Columbia's legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff," her statement read.
A student group, Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students, highlighted the negative impact of the funding cuts on the broader community, noting, "While initial steps have been taken to address these issues, they are broadly insufficient. This move by the federal government hurts all of us, including numerous Jewish graduate students and workers at Columbia who are supported by federal funding. We hope that Columbia responds accordingly in order to prevent further cuts."
In response to the funding cut decision, the New York Civil Liberties Union criticized it as a misuse of the law to undermine political expression. "It is unconstitutional and unprecedented, but it is entirely consistent with Trump's long-held desire to silence views with which he disagrees and clamp down on protest," said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. "Protected political speech should not be a basis for punishment, and Title VI must be applied consistently with the First Amendment."
Beyond Columbia, the Trump administration plans to review several prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, and Northwestern University, for potential antisemitism. Additionally, the administration is preparing to draft an executive order aimed at initiating the shutdown of the Department of Education.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
This decision came after an investigation by a Joint Task Force that included members from the Justice Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration. The task force concluded that the funding cuts were a result of "the school's continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."
Formed on February 3, the task force's creation followed an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 29, which put additional measures in place to address antisemitic harassment in educational settings.
While the statement did not specify which grants and contracts were impacted, it noted that the cuts would be drawn from over $5 billion in funding currently allocated to Columbia University.
Trump previously warned in a social media post that he intended to withdraw funding from educational institutions that permit "illegal protests." He stated, "All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested."
Linda McMahon, the recently confirmed U.S. education secretary, commented on the federal grant cancellations, suggesting that Columbia had not met federal anti-discrimination standards. "Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation and antisemitic harassment on their campuses – only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them," McMahon remarked. "Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. 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."
The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, which escalated after Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, has resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza and extensive destruction. Columbia University became a focal point for pro-Palestine protests against Israel, with students organizing encampments and demonstrations that led to numerous arrests.
Columbia spokesperson Samantha Slater expressed the institution's commitment to working with the federal government to restore its funding. "We take Columbia's legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff," her statement read.
A student group, Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students, highlighted the negative impact of the funding cuts on the broader community, noting, "While initial steps have been taken to address these issues, they are broadly insufficient. This move by the federal government hurts all of us, including numerous Jewish graduate students and workers at Columbia who are supported by federal funding. We hope that Columbia responds accordingly in order to prevent further cuts."
In response to the funding cut decision, the New York Civil Liberties Union criticized it as a misuse of the law to undermine political expression. "It is unconstitutional and unprecedented, but it is entirely consistent with Trump's long-held desire to silence views with which he disagrees and clamp down on protest," said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. "Protected political speech should not be a basis for punishment, and Title VI must be applied consistently with the First Amendment."
Beyond Columbia, the Trump administration plans to review several prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, and Northwestern University, for potential antisemitism. Additionally, the administration is preparing to draft an executive order aimed at initiating the shutdown of the Department of Education.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
