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.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged the White House to take immediate steps to address the growing threat of drone attacks on the United States, ...
Accidental poisonings among young children in the U.S. are rising sharply due to nicotine pouches and vaping, with a study warning of serious health r...
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Washington has successfully contributed to resolving the long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and ...
The Financial Stability Board (FSB), the G20’s financial regulator, has paused further climate policy work as the United States distances itself fro...
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says Bratislava will only back the EU’s 18th sanctions package on Russia if it secures guarantees for future gas s...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged the White House to take immediate steps to address the growing threat of drone attacks on the United States, citing past incidents and their increasing use in global military operations.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Washington has successfully contributed to resolving the long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Italy’s foreign minister said the EU is ready to hit back with €21 billion ($24.5 billion) in tariffs unless a deal is struck with the U.S., warning that President Donald Trump’s 1 August tariff move could harm both economies and derail ongoing trade talks.
The Foreign Ministers of European countries have released a joint statement on recent developments in Georgia, expressing deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the South Caucasian country. The ruling Georgian Dream party issued a sharp condemnation of the joint statement.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged the White House to take immediate steps to address the growing threat of drone attacks on the United States, citing past incidents and their increasing use in global military operations.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Washington has successfully contributed to resolving the long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The Financial Stability Board (FSB), the G20’s financial regulator, has paused further climate policy work as the United States distances itself from key initiatives.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says Bratislava will only back the EU’s 18th sanctions package on Russia if it secures guarantees for future gas supplies, citing national energy interests.
European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera called on China and the EU to reaffirm their full commitment to the Paris Agreement during climate talks in Beijing.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment