In a historic financial blow to one of the nation’s top universities, the Trump administration has officially revoked $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, citing the school’s failure to curb antisemitism on campus. The move marks the first major step in President Donald Trump’s campaign to defund colleges accused of tolerating anti-Jewish hostility in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
A Hardline Stand Against Campus Antisemitism
The funding withdrawal, announced Friday by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, follows a months-long federal review of Columbia’s handling of anti-Israel demonstrations, faculty bias, and harassment of Jewish students. The Education Department, alongside the Justice and Health Departments, determined that Columbia had not done enough to protect Jewish students, despite recent disciplinary actions against protesters.
“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,” McMahon stated.
While Columbia’s administration scrambled to respond to the decision, McMahon later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she had a “productive meeting” with interim Columbia President Katrina Armstrong, signaling that the door remains open for negotiations—if Columbia takes stronger action.
Columbia’s Efforts Come Up Short
In recent weeks, Columbia had attempted to crack down on student activism by forming a new disciplinary committee and investigating students accused of disruptive anti-Israel protests. The university also expelled two students for disrupting an Israeli history class, sparking fresh campus unrest.
However, these moves weren’t enough to prevent the federal funding cut, which Columbia called “a serious announcement with serious implications.”
The university, which relies on federal grants for major research projects—including medical studies and environmental research—is now racing to determine what programs will be affected by the loss of $400 million.
Federal Funds at Stake: More Cuts Could Follow
Beyond the immediate loss, Columbia faces an even greater financial threat. The university’s eligibility for over $5 billion in future federal grants is now under federal review. If Columbia fails to implement stricter policies, the Trump administration could completely sever government funding.
For researchers and faculty, the uncertainty is already causing panic.
“We’re already planning next year’s research budgets, and now we don’t even know if we’ll have the funding,” said oceanographer Robert Newton, a retired senior research scientist at Columbia.
Newton, who is Jewish, dismissed claims that Columbia fosters antisemitism, calling the administration’s accusations “a complete falsehood.”
Campus Divided Over Federal Action
The funding cut has deepened existing divisions on campus.
For Columbia/Barnard Hillel, a leading Jewish student group, the government’s move is long overdue.
“This is a wake-up call to Columbia’s administration and trustees to take antisemitism seriously,” said Hillel Executive Director Brian Cohen.
On the other hand, free speech advocates and pro-Palestinian groups see this as a dangerous precedent.
Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, condemned the decision as an unconstitutional attack on free expression.
“This is nothing more than government coercion—an attempt to silence criticism of Israel by threatening universities financially,” Lieberman said.
Some students claim Columbia is now cracking down on Palestinian advocacy to appease the government, pointing to recent arrests of protesters who occupied a campus building in protest of disciplinary actions.
A Larger Crackdown on Higher Education
Columbia is not alone in facing federal scrutiny.
The Trump administration has launched new antisemitism investigations into several universities, including:
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Minnesota
- Northwestern University
- Portland State University
These schools, like Columbia, were hubs for anti-Israel protests and campus encampments that erupted in the wake of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
At Columbia, last spring’s protests led to mass arrests, the ousting of former President Minouche Shafik, and a scathing university report revealing Jewish students had been ostracized, verbally abused, and humiliated in classrooms.
What’s Next?
As Trump sharpens his focus on higher education, more schools may find themselves in the crosshairs. Will Columbia cave to the pressure—or stand its ground?
For now, $400 million is gone—and the fight over campus antisemitism is just beginning.