President Trump’s administration has canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University after a damning civil rights investigation found the elite institution guilty of “deliberate indifference” toward antisemitic harassment of Jewish students.
Key Takeaways
- Columbia University violated federal civil rights law by inadequately responding to antisemitic harassment, according to Health and Human Services findings.
- The Trump administration has canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia as a result of the investigation.
- Government investigators documented a hostile environment that has disrupted Jewish students’ education, safety, and well-being for over 19 months.
- Columbia has already reduced staff working on research affected by the funding withdrawal while claiming commitment to combating antisemitism.
- This action is part of President Trump’s broader campaign to hold elite universities accountable for campus antisemitism and academic bias.
Federal Investigation Reveals “Deliberate Indifference” to Jewish Students
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that Columbia University violated federal civil rights law through its inadequate response to antisemitic harassment on campus. The investigation found that the prestigious institution acted with deliberate indifference toward Jewish students who faced harassment and discrimination. This serious finding comes after months of escalating tensions at Columbia and other elite universities, where Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe and targeted in the wake of campus protests and activism.
The government report meticulously documents a hostile environment that has persisted for over 19 months, significantly disrupting the education, safety, and overall well-being of Jewish students. As a result of these findings, President Trump’s administration has taken decisive action by canceling approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, demonstrating a firm stance against institutions that fail to protect students from discrimination based on religious identity.
đ¨NEW: HHSâs Civil Rights Office (@HHSOCR) finds that @Columbia violated Title VI âby acting with deliberate indifference towards student-on-student harassment of Jewish studentsâ. For example, HHS finds that Columbia failed:
â˘â â To establish effective reporting and⌠pic.twitter.com/3gVVxmduC7
— Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students âĄď¸đŽđą (@CUJewsIsraelis) May 23, 2025
Trump Administration Takes Strong Action Against Elite Universities
The funding withdrawal represents one of the most significant financial penalties imposed on an American university for civil rights violations in recent history. Columbia has already begun reducing staff working on research projects affected by the funding cuts, highlighting the immediate real-world consequences of the university’s failure to address antisemitism effectively. This action is part of President Trump’s broader campaign to hold elite academic institutions accountable for their handling of campus protests, treatment of Jewish students, and perceived academic biases.
“The findings carefully document the hostile environment Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over 19 months, disrupting their education, safety, and well-being” said Anthony Archeval, HHS spokesperson.
Columbia is not the only target of the administration’s scrutiny. Harvard University, Princeton, and Northwestern have also faced increased pressure and investigations regarding their handling of antisemitism complaints. These actions signal President Trump’s commitment to enforcing civil rights protections for all students and ensuring that universities receiving federal funding comply with their legal obligations to maintain environments free from discrimination and harassment.
Columbia’s Response and Future Implications
In response to the findings, Columbia University has issued a statement claiming commitment to addressing the issues identified in the investigation. The university stated it is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus. We take these issues seriously and will work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to address them. However, this statement comes after months of what investigators determined was inadequate action.
“Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus. We take these issues seriously and will work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to address them.” stated Columbia University.
The university is currently engaged in negotiations with federal officials to address the funding issues and improve student safety protocols. However, sources indicate that Columbia is resisting what it perceives as government control over its academic independence and hiring decisions. This tension highlights the broader debate about academic freedom versus institutional accountability that is playing out across American higher education under President Trump’s administration, which has prioritized protecting students from ideological bias and discrimination on university campuses.
