Trump Pulls $400M From Columbia University Over 'Illegal Protests'

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — The Trump Administration said on Friday morning it pulled more than $400 million in federal contracts and grants from Columbia University due to what it calls the school's "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students," amid recent pro-Palestinian protests.

The announcement was made by the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services and Education, along with the General Services Administration.

It was not immediately clear which contracts or grants would be cut, and which services at Columbia would be effected.

“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding,” Linda McMahon, the secretary of education, said. “For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”

This news comes after the Trump Administration said they were conducting a "comprehensive review" of contracts and grants between Columbia and the federal government, and were considering a stop-work order to freeze $51.4 million in contracts and evaluate $5 billion more on Monday night.

Then, on Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump took to social media to declare that federal funding would stop for any school or college that allows what he claimed are "illegal protests," and that protestors could be deported, expelled or imprisoned.

"All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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."

The announcement comes two days after nine were arrested during a pro-Palestinian sit-in at Barnard College, which is affiliated with Columbia.

“We are reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia’s federal funding," a Columbia spokesperson said. "We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff."

Democratic Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Adriano Espaillat, who represent the area, slammed the president for pulling the funds from Columbia.

"Revoking federal grants to Columbia University isn’t about combating anti-Semitism; it’s about the Trump administration’s war on education and science," the representatives said. "If the Trump administration were as serious about anti-Semitism as they claim, they would not have filled their ranks with unapologetic antisemites. The $400 million in grants cut today support the discovery of life-saving cures and critical research. Slashing this funding will not protect the Jewish students Trump claims to defend but will instead undermine their academic futures."

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