Trump administration threatens to cut Columbia University's federal funding

The Trump administration has threatened to permanently end federal funding to Columbia University, unless the New York institution hands over control of one of its international studies departments.

The ultimatum comes a week after the US government announced that it was pulling $400m (€367m) in federal funding from the university — and reviewing $5bn (€4.6bn) in additional grants — over its perceived failure to root out antisemitism on campus.

In a letter sent by the federal authorities on Thursday night, Columbia was warned that talks on its financial future would only take place if it places its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Department under “academic receivership for a minimum of five years”.

Before any “formal negotiations” can be held, the Ivy League institution must also take other actions, including adopting “a new definition of antisemitism” and reforming its admissions process, it added.

“We expect your immediate compliance with these critical next steps,” officials from the Department of Education, General Services Administration and Department of Health and Human Services wrote.

The development is a dramatic escalation in US President Donald Trump’s attempts to reshape how universities across the country operate.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has targeted Columbia over the pro-Palestinian student protests that took place there last year.

Over the weekend, Mahmoud Khalil, who graduated from the university in December with a Master’s in international studies, was arrested in New York over his role as a student spokesperson during the protests. He is currently being held at a detention centre in Louisiana.

Khalil’s lawyers argue that it is unconstitutional for the US government to deport activists, something Trump and his officials have vowed to do.

Responding to the government’s actions against Columbia, Joseph Howley, a classics professor at the institution, said: “Half of this stuff you can't just do and the other half is insane.”

“If the federal government can show up and demand a university department be shut down or restructured, then we don't have universities in this country,” he added.

On Thursday, Columbia announced that it had sanctioned students over the pro-Palestinian protests, which involved the occupation of Hamilton Hall last spring.

It said in a statement that punishments included “multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations and expulsions”.

In a separate development, the Education Department said it was investigating more than 50 US universities over alleged racial discrimination.