NYC University Fires 180 Researchers Amid Trump Funding Cuts

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — Nearly 180 researchers were laid off by Columbia University in response to President Donald Trump pulling $400 million in federal funding, acting President Claire Shipman said Tuesday.

The school terminated its contracts with nearly 20 percent of researchers whose positions were funded by now-canceled grants. Most of the impacted grants were funding medical research.

"Moving forward, we will be running lighter footprints of research infrastructure in some areas and, in others, maintaining a level of research continuity as we pursue alternate funding sources," Shipman said.

However, Shipman said the school is establishing a Research Stabilization Fund so that some researchers will be able to apply for internal funding from Columbia.

"We will continue to make prudent budget decisions that will ensure long-term financial stability across the University, including making significant budget reductions within the University’s central administration," Shipman said.

The funding was first cut back on March 7, when the Trump Administration pulled more than $400 million in federal contracts and grants from Columbia University due to what it called the school's "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students," amid recent pro-Palestinian protests.

Shortly after, federal officials sent Columbia a list of demands that, if met, would release the funds.

"All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

On March 21, Columbia published a document outlining all the changes that would be made, including banning masks on campus with specific exemptions, in addition to training 36 campus-based police officers to make arrests, auditing the Middle East department and expanding programming at the school's Tel Aviv campus, in order to comply with the federal government's demands.

However, the funding has not been restored yet, and the school is still in talks with the federal government.

"In some cases, schools and departments are winding down activity but remain prepared to reestablish capabilities if support is restored," Shipman said.

This is a developing story and may be updated. For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.