Columbia U Admits ‘Legitimate Concerns’ as Trump Admin Strips $400M in Funding Over Anti-Semitism

Columbia U Admits ‘Legitimate Concerns’ as Trump Admin Strips $400M in Funding Over Anti-Semitism

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Columbia University is facing a financial and reputational crisis after the federal government slashed $400 million in grants and contracts, citing the Ivy League institution’s failure to combat rampant anti-Semitism on its campus. The move, announced by a federal anti-Semitism task force convened by President Trump, has placed Columbia at the center of an escalating national debate over university accountability in addressing discrimination.

According to a report that appeared on Saturday in The New York Post, Interim University President Katrina Armstrong acknowledged that the federal government’s concerns were “legitimate” and pledged that Columbia would take “serious action” to address the crisis. However, the damage may already be done. The funding cuts are expected to immediately impact vital research, student programs, faculty salaries, and even patient care at Columbia’s renowned medical center.

 

Armstrong, in a statement released Friday, emphasized that the university is taking the government’s decision “very seriously” and vowed to work with federal authorities to remedy the situation.

“Columbia can, and will, continue to take serious action toward combatting anti-Semitism on our campus,” Armstrong said.

But her words did little to reassure critics who argue that Columbia has ignored blatant anti-Semitic incidents for months. In response to the funding cuts, Armstrong also warned that the decision would cause significant disruptions across the university.

“This will immediately impact research and other critical functions of the University, impacting students, faculty,  research, and patient care,” Armstrong said, according to The New York Post, adding that the cuts will “undoubtedly create anxiety and concern for our entire community.”

However, federal officials were quick to push back, arguing that Jewish students have already been living in fear and anxiety due to unchecked harassment and threats.

The Department of Education, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, made it clear that Columbia’s leadership had ample opportunities to address anti-Semitism but failed to act decisively.

“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,” McMahon stated on Friday, The New York Post reported.

She further warned that the federal government would not tolerate universities violating anti-discrimination laws while continuing to receive public funding.

“Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer,” McMahon said, according to The New York Post.

The backlash against Columbia intensified after its failure to expel students involved in the violent occupation of Hamilton Hall, a historic campus building. The incident, which took place following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, saw pro-Hamas terror supporters seizing control of the building while demanding that the university sever ties with Israel.

As reported by The New York Post, a House Republican report found that many of the students who participated in the Hamilton Hall takeover were not expelled and continue to remain “in good standing” at the university. This revelation has only deepened concerns that Columbia’s administration has prioritized appeasing anti-Israel extremists over ensuring the safety and well-being of Jewish students.

The situation has been particularly dire for Jewish students, who have reported being threatened, physically intimidated, and harassed simply for expressing support for Israel, according to the information provided in The New York Post report. The Morningside Heights campus, once an academic haven, has transformed into a battleground, where pro-Hamas terror supporters erected tent cities, held inflammatory demonstrations, and, in some cases, openly celebrated the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7.

Columbia’s funding crisis serves as a warning shot to other universities that have allowed unchecked anti-Semitism to flourish under the guise of political activism. Federal funding is contingent on compliance with anti-discrimination laws, and Columbia’s failure to uphold these standards has now resulted in a massive financial penalty.

For Columbia, the stakes could not be higher. The loss of $400 million in federal grants and contracts will severely impact the university’s ability to conduct research, provide financial aid, and maintain its status as a leading institution. More importantly, its reputation has been severely tarnished, with donors, alumni, and prospective students now questioning whether Columbia remains a safe and inclusive space for all students.

Meanwhile, Jewish students and faculty members at Columbia are left wondering whether the university’s renewed commitment to combatting anti-Semitism is genuine—or simply a last-ditch effort to restore its federal funding lifeline.

The question remains: Will Columbia finally take real action against campus anti-Semitism, or is this merely damage control?