Trump administration yanks $400M in grants, contracts from Columbia University over antisemitism

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration yanked roughly $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia University on Friday, citing the school’s noncompliance with anti-discrimination laws.

The funding cancellation comes after months of antisemitic harassment and intimidation on the Morningside Heights campus — with pro-Hamas slogans proclaimed by demonstrators and the NYPD eventually being called in to restore order last April.

“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,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon 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.”

A joint task force to combat anti-semitism — which includes the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education and the General Services Administration (GSA) — announced the withdrawal of US taxpayers’ money from the school, noting that “additional cancelations are expected to follow.”

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