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

2025-03-08 00:01:04.233

The Trump administration announced a $400 million funding cut to Columbia University, canceling grants and contracts due to what the government describes as the university's insufficient response to antisemitism. This action comes after federal agencies reviewed Columbia's eligibility for over $5 billion in federal grants and considered halting work on $51 million in contracts. The decision followed the establishment of a new disciplinary committee at Columbia and increased 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, asserting that Columbia had failed in its obligation to Jewish students. Columbia vowed to work with the government to regain the funding, emphasizing its commitment to combating antisemitism and ensuring student safety. The impact on specific research projects remains unclear, but the announcement caused significant worry among researchers. While some, including a Jewish oceanographer, viewed the government's claims as false, Columbia/Barnard Hillel welcomed the decision, hoping it would prompt the university to address antisemitism more seriously. The New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the move as an unconstitutional attempt to censor student speech. This action marks the first target in President Trump's campaign to cut federal funding from colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism, following campus protests and demonstrations at Columbia related to the Israel-Hamas war. The university's former president faced congressional questioning regarding antisemitism, and a university task force reported instances of ostracization and harassment of Jewish students and Israelis. Recent smaller protests at Columbia-affiliated Barnard College resulted in further arrests. The protests involved students expressing solidarity with Palestinians and criticizing Israel's actions, with many asserting that their actions were not antisemitic. However, some students and their legal counsel see the university's disciplinary actions as an attempt to appease the government. Columbia is among several universities under federal antisemitism investigation.