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- The Trump administration has canceled approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to allegations of the university’s failure to address antisemitism.
- The decision follows an investigation by a federal task force tasked with combating antisemitism, which found Columbia had not adequately protected Jewish students from harassment.
- This move is part of a broader campaign to enforce compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws on university campuses.
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Essential Context
On March 7, 2025, the Trump administration announced the immediate cancellation of about $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University. This decision was made due to the university’s alleged failure to protect Jewish students from persistent harassment and antisemitism.
Core Players
- Trump Administration – Led by President Trump, who is not currently in office but whose policies are still being implemented.
- Columbia University – An Ivy League institution facing federal funding cuts.
- Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism – Led by Leo Terrell, this task force was established following Trump’s executive order in January 2025.
- U.S. Department of Education, Justice, Health and Human Services, and General Services Administration – The four federal agencies involved in the cancellation of grants and contracts.
Key Numbers
- $400 million – The amount of federal grants and contracts canceled for Columbia University.
- $5 billion – The total value of federal grant commitments held by Columbia University.
- October 7, 2023 – The date of Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which triggered increased antisemitic incidents on university campuses.
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The Catalyst
The cancellation of funds is a direct response to what the Trump administration describes as Columbia University’s “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” This decision follows a series of protests and encampments on campus related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized, “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.”
Inside Forces
The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, established in February 2025, has been investigating several universities, including Columbia, for their responses to antisemitic incidents since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.
Columbia University’s response to the protests, which included student encampments and building occupations, has been under intense scrutiny.
Power Dynamics
The decision to cancel funding highlights the Trump administration’s stance on enforcing compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws, particularly Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This law prohibits discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics, or national origin.
Leo Terrell, leading the task force, stated, “Freezing the funds is one of the tools we are using to respond to this spike in anti-Semitism. This is only the beginning.”
Outside Impact
The cancellation of these funds will have significant implications for Columbia University and potentially other institutions under investigation. Columbia holds over $5 billion in federal grant commitments, and while it may be able to absorb this loss, other universities, especially public research universities, could face severe challenges.
A professor of anthropology at a US university noted that smaller universities would struggle immensely and their research could collapse without these grants.
Future Forces
The Trump administration has indicated that this is the first round of actions and that additional cancellations are expected. This sets a precedent for how the federal government will handle institutions accused of not protecting their students from discrimination.
Columbia University has pledged to work with the federal government to restore its federal funding and to combat antisemitism on campus.
Data Points
- January 2025: Trump signs an executive order to combat antisemitism.
- February 2025: The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is established.
- March 3, 2025: The task force notifies Columbia University of a comprehensive review of its federal contracts and grants.
- March 7, 2025: The Trump administration announces the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University.
The cancellation of federal funding to Columbia University marks a significant step in the Trump administration’s efforts to address antisemitism on university campuses. As the situation unfolds, it will be crucial to watch how other institutions respond to these new enforcement measures and how this impacts academic freedom and research across the U.S.
