The Trump administration announced Friday that it is immediately rescinding approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University for alleged “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
Columbia has been at the center of campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with student activists last year calling for the university to divest from Israel. The decision to cut federal funding follows President Donald Trump’s recent warnings that colleges permitting what he termed “illegal protests” could face financial repercussions.
The U.S. Department of Education stated that Friday’s move marks the first round of funding cuts, with additional cancellations expected. The agency noted that earlier in the week, the administration’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism had signaled it was considering halting more than $51 million in federal contracts with Columbia.
A Columbia spokesperson told Axios in an emailed statement that the university is reviewing the federal government’s decision. “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,” the spokesperson said. “We pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia’s federal funding.”
Newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized that federal anti-discrimination laws must be upheld by institutions receiving government funding.
“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 said. “For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus.”
This funding cut follows the administration’s broader investigation into Columbia’s handling of antisemitism concerns, which put billions in federal funding under review. The inquiry, launched earlier this week by multiple federal agencies, is assessing whether the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
