Federal Funding Halted for Columbia University Amid Antisemitism Concerns
In a significant move, the Trump administration has withdrawn $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University. This decision, announced jointly by several government departments, stems from concerns over the university’s handling of antisemitism on its campus.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Friday by the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration. The statement cited “the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students” as the reason for the funding cancellation.
Although the specific programs impacted by this funding withdrawal remain unspecified, the statement indicated that this is just the beginning of potential further actions. Columbia University, holding over $5 billion in federal grant commitments, is now facing uncertain financial adjustments as a result.
A spokesperson from Columbia addressed the situation in a statement to NPR, expressing the university’s intent to collaborate with the federal government to restore 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,” the spokesperson stated.
This funding cut is the latest development in a series of events surrounding Columbia’s response to campus protests linked to the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas. The university has faced criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for allegedly failing to safeguard Jewish students. Many of these concerns were initially highlighted by the Columbia Spectator.
In spring, tensions escalated as pro-Palestinian student groups urged Columbia to divest from companies linked to Israel. The situation led to the university shifting to remote-only classes for the remainder of the term and ultimately culminated in the resignation of President Minouche Shafik after a brief tenure.
President Trump, known for his strong stance against pro-Palestinian campus protests, signed an executive order soon after resuming office. This order directed the Department of Justice to “investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities.”
Columbia is among ten universities currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for allegedly failing to adequately protect Jewish students and faculty from discrimination. Further details on these investigations can be found on the Department of Justice’s website.
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