Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) criticized leaders at Columbia University for allegedly allowing antisemitic rhetoric to spread throughout campus, which has resulted in the institution being stripped of $400 million in federal grants.
“Columbia let antisemitism run amok to cater to lunatic fringe and paid provocateurs. Leadership allowed those assholes to take over the campus and terrorize Jewish students,” Fetterman wrote in a Friday post on social platform X.
“Now, Columbia pays for its failure and I support that.”
Earlier in the day, the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and the U.S. General Services Administration said they would revoke funding over the “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
The campus was a hot spot for pro-Palestine protests after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, sparked discourse in the region.
A spokesperson from the university said Columbia is reviewing the matter and working to address the federal government’s concerns.
“We are reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia’s federal funding,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“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.”
Fetterman has long been critical of the demonstrations at the university and urged Columbia’s former president to resign over protesters’ tent encampments across the New York City school grounds.
“I fully agree with the White House — these ‘protests’ are antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous. Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students,” Fetterman wrote in a statement last year.
“To @Columbia President Minouche Shafik: do your job or resign so Columbia can find someone who will,” he continued.
Minouche Shafik, the university’s former president, resigned four months later citing herself as the subject of threats and abuse.
The Trump administration has pledged to crack down on students, immigrants and universities that are complicit in antisemitic expressions.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Friday the department will rescind funds from institutions found to be out of compliance with antidiscrimination laws.
“Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses – only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them,” McMahon, who was recently confirmed, said in a statement. “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. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”
