Trump Withdraws $400M from Columbia Over Anti-Semitism Concerns

The Trump administration has announced it is terminating $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing the institution's failure to address persistent harassment of Jewish students. This decision follows the establishment of a federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which is investigating the university among others for anti-Semitic incidents. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that universities must comply with federal antidiscrimination laws to receive funding, indicating that further actions against other institutions may follow. Columbia has faced scrutiny amid pro-Palestinian protests and has been accused of not adequately protecting its Jewish students. In response, Columbia stated it is committed to combating antisemitism and will work with the government to address the funding cut. The university's endowment of approximately $14.8 billion and its federal grant commitments exceeding $5 billion highlight the potential impact of this decision on its operations.