(AmericanProsperity.com) – Striking a decisive blow against campus antisemitism, President Donald Trump’s administration has withdrawn $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University.
The move targets the elite Ivy League institution after months of anti-Israel protests that created a hostile environment for Jewish students.
This never-before-seen action sends a clear message to universities nationwide: protect all students or lose taxpayer dollars.
Multiple federal departments announced the funding cuts after investigating antisemitic harassment at Columbia.
The Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration revealed this first wave of cancellations affecting $400 million in grants and contracts.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon directly addressed Columbia’s failures in a statement:
“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. 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.”
Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, emphasized the administration’s determination to protect Jewish students.
He said, “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.”
The funding freeze, which mainly supports healthcare and scientific research, represents only a fraction of Columbia’s $5 billion in federal grant commitments.
The federal agencies warned that “these cancellations represent the first round of action and additional cancellations are expected to follow.”
Columbia University became ground zero for anti-Israel activism following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
Student encampments, building takeovers, and aggressive protests created an environment where Jewish students reported feeling unsafe and targeted.
Despite evidence of harassment, university leadership failed to take decisive action until federal intervention became imminent.
“Since October 7, 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,” Secretary McMahon stated in the Department of Education press release.
Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum reinforced that receiving government funding is not an entitlement.
“Doing business with the Federal Government is a privilege, and Columbia’s inaction is not in line with the Administration’s ideals,” he stated.
Columbia officials are scrambling to restore funding while promising reform.
University spokesperson Samantha Slater said, “We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.”
While liberal groups criticize the funding cuts as an attack on free speech, many Americans view the action as long overdue.
Columbia is one of five colleges under federal investigation for antisemitism, alongside UC Berkeley and the University of Minnesota.
This development suggests similar actions could be taken against other institutions that failed to protect Jewish students.
President Trump has consistently promised to restore order to America’s college campuses.
He warned earlier this year that “agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested.”
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