NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration said Friday it was canceling grants and contracts as the government explained that it had not cured anti-Semitism on campus, subtracting $400 million from Columbia University.
The notification came five days after the federal agency announced they were Consider orders to stop work With a $51 million contract New York City University We will review eligibility for federal grants of more than $5 billion in future. And it came after Colombia established a new disciplinary committee Strengthened our own research Students who are critical of Israel are surprised by the advocates of free speech.
However, Colombia’s efforts clearly had not progressed well for the federal government.
“Universities must comply with all federal prevention laws when they receive federal funds. For a long time, Columbia has waived that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Education Secretary Linda McMahon He said in a statement Friday.
She later posted to X that she had a “productive meeting” with Katrina Armstrong, the interim president of the university, and that she hoped to “work together to protect all students.”
Colombia vowed to work with the government to retrieve the money.
“We take Colombia’s legal obligations seriously, understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating anti-Semitism and ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” the university said in a statement.
It is not clear which research, projects, or activities will be affected in Colombia. Columbia operates a medical center among many other functions. The university said it is reviewing its presentation. The investigation was sent to the Federal Education Department, and Friday’s announcement was issued along with the Department of Health, Justice and the Department of General Services.
Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called the move an unconstitutional government effort.
But the $400 million cutoff was welcome news for Columbia/Bernard Hillel, a Jewish student group. Executive Director Brian Cohen said he hopes to “take awakening calls for the Colombian administration and councillors seriously and to take anti-Semitism and harassment of Jewish students and faculty seriously.”
A message seeking comment has been sent to a coalition group of pro-Palestinian protesters.
Columbia became President Donald Trump’s first target Cutting campaign Federal funding for universities accused of tolerating anti-Semitism Israel-Hamas War It began in October 2023.
The university was at the forefront of protests on US campuses over the war last spring. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been set up Camp Inspired in April Similar waves of protest. Colombian protesters continued to seize campus buildings, leading to dozens of arrests by police The building was cleaned.
meanwhile, Congressional Republicans burned then-President Columbia Minouche Shafik on university responses to anti-Semitism. Shafiq said she “is personally committed to doing everything I can to help me stand up to it directly.” she Resignation Four months later.
A few weeks later, The task force said The Jews and Israelis at the school were expelled from the student group, humiliated in the classroom, and verbally abused during spring demonstrations.
Recently, there are far fewer conditions for protesters. A short occupation in a building He protests the expulsion of two students at Bernard University, accused of disrupting Israel’s history class. Several students were arrested after hours of buying up the building on Wednesday.
Many people involved in the protest say there is no anti-Semitics about criticizing Israel for their actions in Gaza or expressing solidarity with the Palestinians.
Some students, and attorneys who advise them, are seeing new disciplinary action at the university in an effort to soften the government by suppressing Palestinian speeches.
Columbia is one of a handful of universities that came under the new federation Anti-Semitism Survey. Others include the University of California, Berkeley. University of Minnesota; Northwestern University; Portland State University.
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