Trump administration cuts $30 million in funding to Columbia University

In the United States, the Trump administration has decided to make significant cuts to funding for Columbia University. On March 16, 2025, it was revealed that the administration slashed an additional $30 million from the university's grants provided through the Department of Health and Human Services. This latest reduction is part of a broader review of Columbia's extensive federal funding, which totals around $5 billion. The decision to cut funding comes shortly after the administration announced prior cancellations of $400 million in grants to Columbia University, indicating a clear and ongoing reassessment of the institution's financial relationship with the federal government. This initiative appears to be framed within the context of a campaign to combat perceived anti-Semitism on college campuses, as articulated by the Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. Among the notable individuals affected by the funding cuts is Jeanine D'Armiento, the chairwoman of the University Senate Executive Committee at Columbia. D'Armiento has been prominently involved in recent controversies surrounding student protests on campus that many have characterized as contributing to anti-Semitic sentiments. Reports indicate that D'Armiento's funding for her work accounted for approximately $2 million of the newly announced cuts. The administration has outlined specific steps that Columbia must take if it hopes to engage in discussions regarding the restoration of its lost funds. These prerequisites include enforcing disciplinary policies against disruptive protests, implementing a mask ban to identify demonstrators, and reforming the admissions process. The overall situation at Columbia reflects the tensions within educational institutions regarding free speech, activism, and the financial dependencies on federal funding in today's political climate.