Trump Cuts $400M in Federal Grants to Columbia University

story

MAR 8

Above: Pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside Columbia University Campus in New York City on March 4, 2025. Image copyright: Mostafa Bassim/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images

story last updated MAR 8

The Facts

The Trump administration has canceled approximately $400M in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing the school's alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus and protect Jewish students from harassment.
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The action was announced on Friday jointly by the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration. Additional funding cuts are expected to follow in subsequent rounds.
U.S. Department of Education CNN
In a statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said: "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."
U.S. Department of Education The Hill

Sources

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The Spin

Republican narrative

The funding cut is a necessary enforcement action against a university that has repeatedly failed to protect Jewish students from relentless violence, intimidation, and antisemitic harassment on campus, demonstrating that federal funding privileges come with civil rights responsibilities.

U.S. Department of Education X

Democratic narrative

The unprecedented speed of enforcement action and scale of the funding cuts signify an unlawful attempt to coerce universities into censoring constitutionally protected speech and student advocacy regarding Palestinian rights, threatening academic freedom and First Amendment protections.

New York Times X