US Government Takes Action Against Antisemitism in Universities
In a significant move to combat antisemitism on college campuses, the US government has withdrawn federal funding amounting to £314 million ($400 million) from Columbia University. The decision was made by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Education (ED), and the General Services Administration (GSA) in response to what they deemed as inaction in addressing persistent antisemitic harassment at the university.
The decision to revoke Columbia’s funding is part of the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, which is evaluating universities’ compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This task force, which is currently reviewing federal contracts and grants at multiple institutions, has singled out Columbia as the first university to face financial repercussions for failing to address antisemitism on campus.
Federal Funding Withdrawn Over Antisemitism Allegations
Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of universities complying with federal anti-discrimination laws in order to receive federal funding. She stated, “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.”
Four Other Universities Under Investigation
Apart from Columbia, the US Department of Education is also investigating four other universities—Northwestern University, Portland State University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Minnesota, Twin Cities—over allegations of antisemitism. These institutions have been accused of failing to protect Jewish students and allowing antisemitic harassment to escalate following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
Craig Trainor, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, expressed concern over the tolerance of antisemitic harassment on campuses, emphasizing that such actions have driven Jewish life and religious expression underground.
What This Means for Columbia and Other Universities
With Columbia’s federal funding now revoked, university officials have yet to respond to the task force’s findings. The cancellation of funding, which amounts to a significant portion of the university’s total federal grants of over £3.93 billion ($5 billion), serves as a warning to other institutions that may face similar consequences if they do not take appropriate action.
Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, emphasized that this move is just the beginning of the government’s efforts to hold universities accountable for protecting Jewish students. Immediate stop-work orders have been issued on Columbia’s federal contracts, effectively freezing access to these funds, with the possibility of further terminations in the future.
Growing Pressure on University Administrators
The withdrawal of federal funding from Columbia has sent shockwaves through the higher education sector, placing increased pressure on university administrators nationwide to address antisemitism on their campuses. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce has criticized universities for failing to uphold civil rights protections, with calls for additional financial penalties against institutions that neglect the safety of Jewish students.
As federal investigations continue, the task force has warned that other universities failing to meet civil rights obligations could face similar consequences to Columbia. The US government’s stance is clear: antisemitism on college campuses will not be tolerated, and those failing to take action will face significant repercussions.
