Trump Admin Cuts $400M in Columbia University Funding Over Antisemitism Claims

The Trump administration has announced the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing allegations of antisemitic harassment on and around its New York City campus. The decision, made jointly by the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration, has drawn both support and sharp criticism.

While the administration claims the move is necessary to protect Jewish students, it has not disclosed which grants were affected or provided specific evidence of antisemitism. Columbia, which receives over $5 billion in federal funding, has faced intense scrutiny due to ongoing pro-Palestinian protests. Student activists have demanded divestment from companies supporting Israel’s military operations, leading to campus unrest, counter-protests, and accusations of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism.

Critics argue that the funding cuts are an unconstitutional attack on free speech, with the New York Civil Liberties Union calling it an attempt to suppress political expression. The university, which has disciplined protesters and even called police to disperse demonstrations, vowed to work with federal agencies to restore funding.

Jewish organizations remain divided. Columbia’s Hillel group supports the decision, urging the university to take antisemitism more seriously. However, J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group, warns the move could stifle free speech and lead to overcorrections by academic institutions fearing financial repercussions.

With legal challenges expected, the controversy highlights growing tensions over free speech, campus activism, and the role of government in academic institutions.