The Trump administration has canceled roughly $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University following the school’s “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
The decision followed an investigation by the administration’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, focusing on whether the institution took “prompt and effective steps” to address harassment.
“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,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement, according to NBC News.
Columbia immediately scrambled to work with federal officials to restore the funding. “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 wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff,” a university spokesperson said.
McMahon later posted on X that she had a “productive meeting” with Columbia’s interim president Katrina Armstrong.
Had a productive meeting with Columbia’s interim president Katrina Armstrong today. Look forward to working together to protect all students on their campus.
The Trump Administration will not allow the continued harassment and threats of violence against students. https://t.co/FL3YqiQWcD
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) March 7, 2025
Leo Terrell, senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights and head of the Justice Department Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, called the funding cancellation “only the beginning” of the administration’s response to campus anti-Semitism.
Brian Cohen, executive director of the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life at Columbia and Barnard, welcomed the move as a potential catalyst for change.
“Columbia has an antisemitism crisis, and for months, I have worked with faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni to urge the administration to act quickly to address this crisis,” Cohen said. “I hope this federal action is a wake-up call to Columbia’s administration and trustees.”
Columbia has been at the center of campus controversies since anti-Israel protests began after the October 7 attack. Last spring, the university made headlines when administrators called police to clear an encampment of protesters, resulting in numerous arrests. The handling of these protests contributed to leadership changes at the university, with former president Minouche Shafik stepping down amid bipartisan criticism.
The Columbia decision represents one of the most significant financial penalties imposed on a university over the handling of campus protests, potentially setting a precedent for how the federal government addresses similar situations at other institutions.
$5 billion in grants similar to Columbia’s are under review by Terrell’s committee, per the New York Post.
