MAGA Trump cancels $400 million grant to Columbia University, cites Jew-hatred

The Trump administration announced yesterday (Friday) the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing the institution’s alleged failure to protect Jewish students from harassment amid protests linked to the Israel-Hamas war. The decision, executed by a multi-agency task force, marks a significant escalation in the U.S. government’s efforts to address antisemitism on college campuses since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon outlined the administration’s rationale in a statement: “Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and antisemitic harassment on their campuses—and have encountered neglect from those who are supposed to protect them. Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they wish to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned this obligation toward Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we are showing Columbia and other universities that we will no longer tolerate their disgraceful inaction.” The move invokes Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin—including Jewish ancestry—in federally funded programs.

A Rapid Policy Shift

The announcement followed a March 3 statement from the administration launching a “comprehensive review” of Columbia’s federal funding, which exceeds $5 billion in commitments. The swift transition to a $400 million cut within four days—bypassing the typical protracted investigative process—suggests a deliberate, high-profile action. The decision was coordinated by the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration, under the newly established Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, led by Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

Columbia’s 2024 operating revenue reached $6.6 billion, with roughly $1.3 billion (20%) from government grants, largely for research and healthcare. The $400 million cut, while substantial, represents a fraction of this funding, though specifics about affected programs remain undisclosed. The Task Force described this as an initial step, hinting at potential further reductions to Columbia’s federal support.

Campus Context and Controversy

The decision ties directly to unrest at Columbia since April 2024, when pro-Palestinian students established encampments and briefly occupied buildings to protest Israel’s military operations in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed over 1,200 and abducted 251. These demonstrations drew accusations of antisemitism from some Jewish students and pro-Israel advocates, who reported verbal abuse, exclusion from student groups, and a hostile climate. A university task force in 2024 confirmed isolated incidents but found no evidence of systemic policy violations, a conclusion now at odds with the Trump administration’s stance.

Israel’s war against Hamas, now in its 17th month, has intensified global scrutiny of campus activism. Columbia, a prominent Ivy League institution, became a lightning rod for these tensions, balancing free expression with student safety. The administration’s action reflects a broader policy shift under Trump, who in January 2025 issued an executive order targeting antisemitism in higher education, building on his campaign rhetoric against “pro-Hamas radicals” in academia.

Responses and Reactions

Columbia University responded cautiously: “We are reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia’s federal funding. We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff.” The statement avoids confrontation, signaling intent to negotiate rather than litigate.

Jewish voices on campus diverged. Brian Cohen of Columbia/Barnard Hillel praised the cuts as a “wake-up call” to address antisemitism, while Jewish students in pro-Palestinian coalitions argued that criticism of Israel is wrongly conflated with anti-Jewish bias. The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) denounced the move as “unconstitutional,” with Director Donna Lieberman asserting it punishes protected speech rather than proven discrimination, potentially misapplying Title VI.

Supporters laud the financial penalty as a means to enforce accountability—Once you hit somebody’s wallet, they really start to pay attention.

Unanswered Questions

The administration has yet to release detailed evidence tying specific incidents to the $400 million cut, raising questions about transparency. Columbia’s prior efforts—student suspensions, a task force, and policy reviews—were deemed inadequate by Washington, though the legal threshold for “continued inaction” remains vague. The accelerated timeline also departs from standard Title VI enforcement, which typically involves prolonged investigations, fueling speculation of political motives aligned with Trump’s broader critique of universities as liberal strongholds.

The cuts could disrupt research, such as medical studies at Columbia’s renowned medical center, though the university’s $13 billion endowment may mitigate immediate fallout. More broadly, the action may pressure other campuses—such as UC Berkeley or Northwestern, also under scrutiny—to curb protests, which should have happened a year ago, if not more.

Looking Ahead

This marks the first major funding penalty under Trump’s antisemitism initiative, with the Task Force signaling further reviews of Columbia’s $5 billion in grants. Legal challenges loom, as groups like the NYCLU weigh First Amendment arguments against the administration’s discrimination claims. The decision also deepens campus divides over Israel and Palestine, a microcosm of global tensions tied to the ongoing war.

The $400 million cancellation stands, with Columbia navigating its next steps. Whether this heralds a new era of federal oversight or a fleeting political gesture remains to be seen, but its reverberations are already reshaping the intersection of education, policy, and identity.