The federal government has canceled approximately $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing the school’s failure to address persistent harassment of Jewish students. The Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the General Services Administration (GSA) announced the decision Friday, warning that more cancellations may follow.
Columbia, which holds over $5 billion in federal grant commitments, was notified on March 3 that its funding would be reviewed due to ongoing Title VI civil rights investigations. Officials say the university has failed to act, allowing chaos and anti-Semitic harassment to persist on campus.
“Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment – only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “Universities must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws to receive federal funding.”
The Trump administration has pledged to revoke funding from institutions that fail to protect students from anti-Semitic harassment. Senior DOJ official Leo Terrell called the funding freeze “just the beginning,” emphasizing that the government will not support institutions that neglect Jewish students’ safety.
GSA will assist in issuing stop-work orders on Columbia’s federal contracts, effectively freezing the university’s access to these funds. Federal officials say this move serves as a warning to all universities receiving taxpayer dollars: failure to combat anti-Semitism will have consequences.
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