Trump Administration Slams Columbia University with $400 Million Funding Cut Over Antisemitism Claims!

2025-03-08 06:00:48.355

The Trump administration announced a $400 million funding cut to Columbia University, canceling grants and contracts due to what it described as the university's insufficient response to antisemitism. This followed earlier warnings and reviews of the university's eligibility for billions in federal grants. The decision came after Columbia implemented new disciplinary measures and investigations into students critical of Israel, raising concerns among free speech advocates. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that universities must comply with federal antidiscrimination laws to receive funding. Columbia vowed to cooperate with the government to regain the funding. The impact on specific research projects remains unclear, causing worry among researchers. While some, including a Jewish oceanographer, criticized the government's claims as false, a Jewish student group welcomed the decision, hoping it would prompt Columbia to address antisemitism more seriously. The New York Civil Liberties Union condemned the move as an unconstitutional attempt to suppress speech critical of Israel. This action marks the first target in President Trump's campaign to cut funding from universities accused of tolerating antisemitism, following campus protests and demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas war. Several other universities are also under federal investigation for similar allegations.