President Donald Trump’s administration announced on Friday that it is cutting $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University, accusing the institution of failing to protect Jewish students from harassment during protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In a statement, four U.S. government agencies revealed the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts due to the university’s failure to address ongoing harassment of Jewish students. This move follows Trump’s recent warning to cut funding for educational institutions that allow “illegal protests.”
Student protests erupted across U.S. campuses, including Columbia, after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. These protests led to accusations of anti-Semitism, with some protests turning violent, involving the occupation of campus buildings and disruption of lectures. The protests divided students, with those opposing Israel’s actions clashing with pro-Israel campaigners, many of whom were Jewish.
A spokesperson for Columbia University responded, saying they were reviewing the announcement and committed to working with the federal government to restore the institution’s federal funding. The spokesperson emphasized the university’s serious approach to legal obligations and its commitment to combating anti-Semitism and safeguarding its students, faculty, and staff.
Protests continued on Columbia’s campus this week, with over 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting against former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett during a speaking engagement on Tuesday.
Trump stated on Truth Social that, “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests.” He also warned that agitators could face imprisonment or deportation, and American students involved in illegal actions could face expulsion or arrest.
Joseph Howley, an associate professor at Columbia, criticized the decision, hoping the university would challenge the defunding in court. He argued that Columbia had dedicated significant resources to address harassment and discrimination, yet the government had made these claims without any legal findings.
The U.S. General Services Administration confirmed that this action is the “first round” of a broader series of federal funding cuts, which could impact the $5 billion in federal grants Columbia receives.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that the cuts were necessary because “Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment” on campuses, particularly since October 7, with the government accusing Columbia of ignoring its obligation to protect Jewish students. She emphasized that universities must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws to receive federal funding.
In response, two New York congressmen, Jerrold Nadler and Adriano Espaillat, criticized the Trump administration, claiming that if the government were truly concerned about anti-Semitism, it wouldn’t have included known anti-Semites in its ranks. They argued that slashing federal funding would harm Jewish students’ academic futures rather than protecting them.
This latest action follows the formation of a multi-agency task force by the Justice Department to combat anti-Semitism, with a focus on rooting out harassment on college campuses.
AFP
