U.S. Cuts $400 Million From Columbia's Funding Amid Crackdown on Campus Protests - U.S. News - Haaretz.com
NEW YORK – The Trump administration announced on Friday that it is cutting off $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University amid its crackdown on pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests. Speaking with Haaretz, a university spokesperson pledged to "work with the federal government" to restore the funding.
The decision marks the first wave of federal grant cancellations for Columbia, driven by the administration's newly formed antisemitism task force and U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order on antisemitism, and his pledging to crack down on what he called "illegal protests."
On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and the U.S. General Services Administration announced a "comprehensive review of Columbia's federal contracts and grants in light of ongoing investigations for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act."
Columbia University receives approximately $1.3 billion in federal funding annually and has more than $5 billion in active federal grant commitments, all of which are now under government review.
Speak with Haaretz, Assaf Zeevi, a Professor of Business at the Graduate School of Business, praised the slashing of federal funding to the school. "The mismanagement of Columbia leadership is evident in prioritizing fringe groups of faculty and students, many pro terror supporters, over its core mission of research and teaching," he said.
Zeevi added that "the collateral damage of Columbia's inaction will now be borne directly by students whose access to higher education is supported by federal grants, patients whose life and well-being depends on clinical trials, and productive research focused faculty who are expanding knowledge in key areas, and training the next generation of innovators and educators."
A Pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University in October 2024.Credit: Etan Nechin
"Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding," Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, "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."
"Freezing the funds is one of the tools we are using to respond to this spike in antisemitism. This is only the beginning," said Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and head of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Antisemitism.
"Cancelling these taxpayer funds is our strongest signal yet that the federal government is not going to be party to an educational institution like Columbia that does not protect Jewish students and staff."
"Antisemitism is clearly inconsistent with the fundamental values that should inform liberal education," said Sean Keveney, HHS Acting General Counsel and Task Force member. "Columbia University's complacency is unacceptable."
A Columbia spokesperson, responding to the federal funding cuts, told Haaretz, "We are reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia's federal funding. We take Columbia's legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff."
Hadar Susskind, CEO of New Jewish Narrative – A merger between Americans for Peace Now, the U.S. branch of the long-standing Israeli peace movement, and Ameinu, a group linked to the Israeli Labor Party – told Haaretz that the funding cut is "an example of Trump weaponizing antisemitism to chill free speech."
"Some of what happened at Columbia was genuinely troubling and needed to be addressed. But that's not what this move is about," Susskind explained, "[Trump] is abusing his power to try to silence critics of Israeli policies. In doing so, Trump is playing into the hands of the real antisemites. "
Americans for Peace Now CEO Hadar Susskind addressing the crowd outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington.Credit: Gili Getz
Columbia was a focal point for protests after Hamas's October 7 attack, though they waned in the fall. Tensions flared again this past week with two sit-ins at Barnard, the latest resulting in multiple student arrests.
Barnard College administrators have condemned the disruptions, and even student groups sympathetic to the cause have distanced themselves from blatant imagery and rhetoric glorifying Hamas and its leader, Yahya Sinwar.
Columbia Jewish groups responded to the decision, saying, "This is the consequence of poor governance at Columbia and irresponsibility by many of our colleagues. We will continue working with the Columbia administration to fight antisemitism and terror support. We hope that at this point, some of our long overdue recommendations will be taken seriously."