Trump yanks $400 million from Columbia over allegations of antisemitism
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Butler Library at Columbia University is seen in 2020. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Trump administration announced Friday it's immediately pulling about $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University.
The big picture: The administration cited the school's alleged "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."
- Columbia University was an epicenter last year for students protesting against the Israel-Hamas war.
- Trump earlier this week threatened to pull federal funding from colleges he accused of allowing "illegal protests" on campus.
- The State Department also plans to use AI to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who appear "pro-Hamas," Axios' Marc Caputo reported.
Driving the news: Friday's announcement marks the first round of cuts, with additional cancelations expected to follow, the Department of Education said in a press release.
- The administration had announced Monday that its Task Force to Combat Antisemitism was considering halting over $51 million in contracts with Columbia. The Education Department said Friday it did not receive a response from the university's acting president.
- "Chaos and anti-Semitic harassment have continued on and near campus in the days since," the department alleged.
What they're saying: A Columbia spokesperson told Axios in an emailed statement that the university is reviewing the announcement and they "pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia's federal funding."
- The statement adds, "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."
Zoom in: Newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement that since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, "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."
- She said universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding.
- "For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus," McMahon added. "Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer."
Context: One potential consequence for institutions that violate anti-discrimination law, including Title VI, is a loss of federal funding, Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told Axios Friday.
- "If the administration is cutting funding to Columbia for violating Title VI, it must be clear and transparent about how it arrives at that decision," Coward said.
- They must present the facts that gave rise to this conclusion, so other public institutions can evaluate the underlying claims, he added.
- But, "if it comes out that the administration is basing this on copious failure to respond to protected expression, then I think that sends a deeply chilling message to all institutions and students," he said.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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