Trump Administration Cites Columbia University for Civil Rights Violations in Jewish Student Harassment

The Trump administration has accused Columbia University of violating federal civil rights law by failing to adequately address antisemitic harassment against Jewish students since October 7, 2023. The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights found that the university exhibited "deliberate indifference" to student-on-student harassment, including not investigating or punishing vandalism such as swastikas in classrooms and failing to enforce restrictions on campus protests in sensitive areas. The violation pertains to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including perceived Jewish or Israeli identity. Despite the university implementing some reporting and remediation mechanisms by summer 2024, the federal agency criticized Columbia for allowing a hostile environment to persist for over 19 months, disrupting the education and safety of Jewish students. The administration has encouraged Columbia to collaborate on meaningful changes to protect students and previously withdrew $400 million in federal funding. These actions come amid ongoing protests on campus, including a graduation rally supporting Palestine and demonstrations involving burning diplomas to protest governmental actions against former students linked to anti-Israel activism.