President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign to withhold federal funding from universities accused of failing to combat antisemitism, with Columbia University emerging as the first major target. Federal agencies announced a sweeping review of the Ivy League institution’s eligibility for over $5 billion in grants and contracts, citing concerns over its handling of campus protests and alleged discrimination against Jewish students.
The Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, along with the General Services Administration, confirmed on Monday that they are considering halting $51 million in federal contracts with Columbia. The move follows Trump’s recent directive ordering agencies to wield “all available and appropriate legal tools” to address campus antisemitism, including the removal of foreign students and staff deemed security risks.
Trump’s hardline stance on-campus protests
In a fiery social media post on Tuesday, Trump escalated his rhetoric, declaring that all federal funding would be cut from colleges that permit “illegal protests.” He further vowed to imprison or deport “agitators” involved in campus demonstrations, underscoring his administration’s commitment to enforcing its crackdown.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate just last week, echoed the administration’s position, asserting that Columbia had failed in its duty to protect Jewish students. “The institution’s inaction raises very serious questions about its fitness to continue receiving federal funding,” McMahon stated in an official announcement.
Columbia University, in response, insisted it remains committed to combating antisemitism and discrimination. “We are resolute that calling for, promoting, or glorifying violence or terror has no place at our university,” the school said in a statement, adding that it intends to cooperate with federal authorities.
Federal scrutiny extends beyond Columbia
Columbia is one of five universities recently placed under investigation for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin. Other institutions facing federal scrutiny include the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; Northwestern University; and Portland State University.
While colleges found guilty of violating federal civil rights laws can face severe penalties, including total revocation of federal funding, such an outcome has been rare in past cases. However, Trump’s administration has signaled a willingness to enforce more drastic measures.
A campus in turmoil
Columbia has been a flashpoint for student-led protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Demonstrations erupted last spring when pro-Palestinian activists staged sit-ins, set up encampments, and occupied a campus building, leading to dozens of arrests. More recently, pro-Palestinian protesters reportedly forced entry into a building at Columbia’s Barnard College, allegedly assaulting an employee before dispersing after university officials issued warnings of disciplinary action.
These tensions contributed to the resignation of Columbia’s former president, Minouche Shafik, last year. Shafik was among a group of university leaders called before Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where she faced sharp criticism over her handling of campus unrest. The hearings also played a role in the resignations of the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Republican pressure mounts
The federal crackdown on Columbia comes amid broader Republican efforts to hold universities accountable for antisemitic incidents. A December report spearheaded by House Speaker Mike Johnson concluded that many US colleges had failed to curb antisemitism, highlighting cases at Columbia, Harvard, and UCLA.
The report urged the executive branch to aggressively enforce civil rights laws and cut funding to institutions deemed “unfit stewards of taxpayer dollars.” It also accused universities of fostering an environment of hostility towards Jewish students, an allegation that has been central to the Trump administration’s justification for its sweeping funding reviews.
A battle over academic freedom and federal authority
Critics warn that Trump’s aggressive intervention threatens academic freedom and could set a dangerous precedent for federal overreach in higher education. Columbia professor Joseph Howley, an outspoken supporter of pro-Palestinian protesters, accused the administration of using antisemitism as a pretext for ideological suppression. Associated Press reported him saying “It’s no secret that the MAGA-Trump movement hates universities and wants to dismantle them. They’re coming for our funding either way.”
The Education Department, under President Joe Biden, had already launched over 100 investigations into antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Some schools rushed to reach settlements before Biden left office, but Republican lawmakers have since criticized those agreements as insufficiently punitive.
As Trump’s crackdown unfolds, universities across the country now face mounting pressure to comply with federal directives—or risk losing billions in funding. With Columbia standing at the center of this battle, the outcome could set a precedent for the federal government’s role in shaping campus policies nationwide.
