Columbia, Harvard Face Federal Intervention Over Antisemitism

The Trump administration has moved to strip Columbia University of accreditation, alleging violations of federal civil rights law due to failure to address antisemitic harassment against Jewish students following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The Department of Education notified Columbia's accreditor and threatened the university's eligibility for federal student aid, which could severely affect its operations. This action follows the withdrawal of $400 million in federal funding and demands for major policy reforms at Columbia. Simultaneously, the administration targeted Harvard University by seeking to bar international student enrollment, though a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the effort. Both universities are under pressure to reform in response to these federal interventions, which reflect a broader campaign by the Trump administration to exert more control over academia. These unprecedented actions could significantly alter the relationship between U.S. higher education institutions and the federal government.