Columbia University has become the first target of President Donald Trump’s campaign to cut federal funding to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Federal agencies are considering halting $51 million in contracts with the New York City school and reviewing its eligibility for over $5 billion in federal grants. Trump stated that any school allowing “illegal protests” will have federal funding ceased, with agitators facing imprisonment or deportation.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed Columbia’s failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination, questioning the institution’s fitness for continued government business. Columbia pledged to combat antisemitism, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards violence or terror promotion on campus.
Following Trump’s directive, Columbia and other colleges faced federal investigations for alleged antisemitism, with potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Despite concerns raised by some professors, the Trump administration’s scrutiny on universities continues, targeting those perceived as failing to address antisemitism effectively.
President Joe Biden’s administration initiated numerous investigations into antisemitism and Islamophobia following the Israel-Hamas conflict, with a focus on campus protests. Columbia’s involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations led to heightened scrutiny, triggering debates on federal funding and civil rights compliance among educational institutions nationwide. The ongoing tensions underscore the complex intersection of free speech, campus activism, and governmental oversight in higher education.
