The Trump administration announced on Friday that it has canceled grants and contracts worth about $400 million to Columbia University, citing what it described as antisemitic harassment on and near the school’s New York City campus.
The announcement was made jointly by the departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration.
According to the statement, the funding cuts are part of a broader effort to address antisemitic incidents linked to the campus environment. However, officials declined to specify which grants and contracts were affected or to provide details on the evidence supporting the allegations. The cuts are expected to come from over $5 billion in grants currently committed to Columbia, much of which supports healthcare and scientific research.
“The cancellation of these taxpayer funds is our strongest signal yet that the Federal Government is not going to be party to an educational institution like Columbia that does not protect Jewish students and staff,” said Leo Terrell, who leads the Justice Department’s antisemitism task force.
The decision is likely to face legal challenges, with civil rights groups arguing that the contract cancellations lack due process and constitute unconstitutional punishment for protected political speech. The New York Civil Liberties Union, for instance, described the move as “unconstitutional and unprecedented” and warned that it could have a chilling effect on academic freedom.
Columbia University has been a focal point of a pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protest movement in recent years. Student groups have, at times, seized control of academic buildings and set up encampments on campus, demanding that the university cease investments in companies supporting Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian territories. The school has maintained that it is committed to combating antisemitism and other forms of prejudice on its campus while also defending its free speech rights.
In response to the announcement, Columbia issued a statement asserting its commitment to fulfilling its legal obligations and stated that staff are working with the federal government to restore its federal funding. The university did not indicate which specific grants or contracts were impacted.
Critics, including pro-Israel advocacy groups like J Street and civil rights organizations, have expressed concern that the funding cuts may serve as a broader attack on academic institutions and could force schools to overcorrect by stifling political speech. The administration’s move follows a series of high-profile disputes over campus protests and the boundaries of acceptable political expression in academic settings.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has instructed its employees to label documents related to the agency’s review of grants and contracts under the controversial DOGE initiative with "legal privilege," in a bid to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, criticized the United States for placing "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland, ahead of a high-profile U.S. delegation’s visit to the semi-autonomous Danish territory this week.
China has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order, which threatens to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported to the U.S. from any country that imports oil from Venezuela.
President Donald Trump doubled down on his push for U.S. control over Greenland, stating on Monday that the territory could become a significant part of America's future.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Kabul, Afghanistan - Climate change has become a critical destabilizing factor in Afghanistan, worsening the country's already severe economic and social instability.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz admitted on Tuesday that he created the Signal chat where sensitive details about U.S. strikes on Yemen were shared — and called the episode “embarrassing.”
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will face a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday, marking an early test of the strength and unity of her ruling coalition after two days of fierce opposition scrutiny.
Signal president Meredith Whittaker has defended the platform’s security after senior Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military action against Yemen’s Houthis.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
Serbia’s parliament has officially accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, setting a 30-day deadline for the formation of a new government or the calling of snap elections.
Kabul, Afghanistan - Climate change has become a critical destabilizing factor in Afghanistan, worsening the country's already severe economic and social instability.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz admitted on Tuesday that he created the Signal chat where sensitive details about U.S. strikes on Yemen were shared — and called the episode “embarrassing.”
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will face a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday, marking an early test of the strength and unity of her ruling coalition after two days of fierce opposition scrutiny.
Signal president Meredith Whittaker has defended the platform’s security after senior Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military action against Yemen’s Houthis.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to suspend attacks on key energy infrastructure for 30 days, according to a statement published by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Kabul, Afghanistan - Climate change has become a critical destabilizing factor in Afghanistan, worsening the country's already severe economic and social instability.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz admitted on Tuesday that he created the Signal chat where sensitive details about U.S. strikes on Yemen were shared — and called the episode “embarrassing.”
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will face a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday, marking an early test of the strength and unity of her ruling coalition after two days of fierce opposition scrutiny.
Signal president Meredith Whittaker has defended the platform’s security after senior Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military action against Yemen’s Houthis.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment