Columbia Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Cuts

Columbia University and associated faculty organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the revocation of $400 million in federal funding. The funding was rescinded due to allegations of antisemitism on campus and demands for Columbia to implement policy changes, including restrictions on protests and increased oversight of the Middle Eastern studies department. The lawsuit, supported by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors, argues that the administration's actions infringe on academic freedom and autonomy by coercing the university to modify its policies. In response to these demands, Columbia has enacted several policy changes, such as mask bans during protests, which have sparked further student protests. These developments have intensified tensions at Columbia, with student and faculty groups vocally opposing both the university's compliance with federal demands and the broader implications for academic independence. The situation remains contentious as legal proceedings continue and campus protests persist.