Trump demands major changes at Columbia University to restore funding

On March 13, 2025, in the United States, the Trump administration directed Columbia University to comply with a series of demands if it wishes to have its previously canceled $400 million in federal funding reinstated. The administration's letter outlined an ultimatum featuring a range of controversial requirements, including placing the university's Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies under academic receivership for a minimum of five years. This move has raised significant concerns about academic freedom and exemplifies ongoing tensions regarding free speech and the political climate on university campuses. The demands also included harsh disciplinary measures against students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. The administration called for expulsion or long-term suspension for these demonstrators and demanded the abolition of the University Judicial Board, centralizing all disciplinary actions under the university president. Moreover, it requested revisions to its protest policies by enforcing 'time, place, and manner rules' and imposing a ban on masks intended to conceal identity, placing additional restrictions on student expression. Columbia’s response to these demands will significantly affect not only the university's governance but also its campus atmosphere. The university community has expressed alarm over the increasing federal encroachment on academic independence. Scholars, administrators, and students rally against what they perceive as an authoritarian tactic aimed at silencing dissent and imposing a specific ideological conformism in American higher education. This situation also reflects a national trend, where conservative factions are pushing for tighter control over university curricula and practices, seen as aligned with the broader MAGA movement. Federal investigations into diversity initiatives at universities have been increasing, with claims that these programs discriminate against white and Asian students. The administration has also targeted individual students involved in protests, further demonstrating its aggressive stance on campuses perceived as bastions of progressive thought. The arrests of two pro-Palestinian protesters, including Mahmoud Khalil, underscore the administration’s willingness to use legal mechanisms to suppress dissent. As the political landscape evolves, the implications of such federal actions are profound, posing potential threats to academic freedom and the rights of students nationwide.