Columbia University cracks down on anti-Israel protests to secure $400 million in funding revoked by Trump administration

Students at major universities across the United States have organized protests in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023. These demonstrations have, at times, escalated into violence and destruction, with pro-Hamas participants breaking into buildings on campuses like Harvard and Columbia. Many protesters have worn face masks to conceal their identities while expressing support for Hamas and advocating for participation in the BDS movement.

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration imposed restrictions on universities that have been actively involved in fostering antisemitism among students and faculty.

Columbia University, a focal point of the protests, had $400 million in grants revoked by the Trump administration. In an effort to have these funds reinstated, the university agreed to a set of conditions outlined by Trump and his team, according to university President Prof. Katrina Armstrong on Friday.

These conditions include mandatory antisemitism training for all staff, expanding the university's academic presence in Israel, banning the wearing of masks on campus, and implementing indirect oversight of its Middle Eastern Studies department.

Although Columbia did not directly address the administration's controversial request for academic oversight of its Middle Eastern Studies department and the Center for Palestinian Studies, Armstrong revealed the appointment of a new vice provost tasked with conducting a "comprehensive review" of all regional studies programs, particularly those focused on the Middle East.

According to Ynet News, the appointee “will review the current course offerings, examine academic content and faculty recruitment procedures, and oversee the approval of new curricula.”

As a way to provide a greater level of protection to Jewish students, Columbia also introduced stricter measures to combat violent protests and actions that pose a threat to them. For example, face coverings during demonstrations, except for medical or religious purposes, will be banned. This is a result of previous incidents where masked protesters hid their identities while engaging in violent behavior on campus.

Students participating in protests within academic buildings or designated study areas will be considered in violation of university policies and could face severe disciplinary actions, including suspension or expulsion. Additionally, the Trump administration has revoked student visas for individuals identified in some of these protests, as well as for students and faculty members who have expressed support for Hamas on social media platforms.

Columbia is set to hire 36 additional security officers “with expanded authority, including the power to make arrests and forcibly remove individuals from campus if necessary.”

This decision comes in response to criticism from the Trump administration, which claimed that the university did not take adequate steps to prevent previous unrest, such as the April 2024 takeover of Hamilton Hall by protesters.

Columbia will also adopt the antisemitism definition created by an internal task force established in August 2024. Ynet reported that this move “is viewed as a concession to the administration, which had accused the university of inaction in the face of rising antisemitic incidents on campus following the Oct. 7 attacks.”

Furthermore, Columbia has pledged to expand its academic initiatives in Tel Aviv, with its Israel-based academic center planning to launch new courses and programs in the second quarter of 2025.

This move is seen as an effort to appease pro-Israel critics amid growing scrutiny of its Middle Eastern Studies programs. The university has also committed to creating an educational program for primary and secondary schools aimed at combating antisemitism and promoting intergroup dialogue.

The university is currently looking to change its admissions policies to ensure fairness and address trends in the declining enrollment of Jewish and African American students. One key change includes the implementation of an institutional neutrality policy, which will bar the university administration from publicly taking positions on politically divisive issues.

To enhance accountability and oversight of student organizations, including the power to revoke funding, suspend, or derecognize groups that violate university regulations, Columbia announced that its Office of Institutional Equity will be given expanded authority.

The new policy is largely perceived to be aimed at pro-Palestinian student organizations. Previously, Columbia had banned local chapters of groups involved in campus protests, including Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.

The response within the academic community has been mixed, with some backing the measures to secure federal funding, while others see them as a compromise that weakens the university's core principles and opens the door for unprecedented government interference in its operations.