The Trump administration canceled $400 million in grants to Columbia University.
In a joint statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the agencies said the cancellations stem from the university’s “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
The university holds more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments, the agencies said.
More cancellations are expected, the statement noted, as the current grant terminations are the “first round of action,” the statement read.
“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. “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 studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”
Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and head of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, said the move is “only the beginning” of future action.
The move follows President Trump’s announcement that he would end federal funding for schools allowing “illegal protests” on campuses.
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came,” he wrote on Truth Social this week. “American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
