The Trump administration on Friday announced that Columbia University will lose $400m in federal grants and contracts over accusations it has not done enough to combat antisemitism. A statement by four federal agencies who are part of the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism said the funding cut was due to “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students”.
In February, the Trump administration created the task force with four government agencies: the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the US General Services Administration.
The Task Force announced last week it would visit ten university campuses which have experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023 after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel and the subsequent war on Gaza.
“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.
The statement warned that the cancellations represent the first round of action and additional cancellations are expected to follow. Columbia University currently holds more than $5bn in federal grant commitments.
The amount announced today is almost eight times more than the amount the federal task force announced it was considering halting on Monday.
Columbia vowed to work with the government to try to get the money back. The University admin has sent notices to dozens of students for activities ranging from sharing social media posts in support of Palestinian people to joining “unauthorized” protests.
Jewish students at Columbia are among those who have received the notices for taking part in pro-Palestinian protests.
“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 well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” the university said in a statement.
The Ivy League university was at the forefront of US campus protests over the genocide in Gaza. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators set up an encampment in April last year and inspired a wave of similar protests.
Protesters at Columbia went on to seize a campus building, resulting in dozens of arrests when police cleared the building.
