The Trump administration on Monday threatened to subtract more than $50 million in a government contract with Columbia University. This pointed to a suspected inaction by the Ivy League Schools to grasp anti-Israel protests targeting Jewish students.
Federal officials have announced that they are considering placing “stop work orders” on contracts worth $51.4 million and considering the commitment of more than $5 billion in federal grants tied to Big Apple University to ensure that Jewish students' rights are met.
“Anti-Semitism, like racism, is a spiritual and moral disease that makes society sick and kills deadly people, comparable to the deadliest plagues of history,” Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement.
The looming warning to the school is part of an ongoing investigation into possible civil rights violations, coming after President Trump established a task force to fight anti-Semitism when he took office in January to fight the vile hatred that takes place on university campuses.
Newly minted Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement that Americans are “watching with fear” as Americans have been attacked and harassed at elite universities since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
“Illegal camps and demonstrations are completely paralyzing daily campus operations, depriving Jewish students of qualified learning opportunities,” she said.
Columbia said it was reviewing the federal government's message and wanted to work with the White House to combat anti-Semitism.
“Colombia is fully committed to combating anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination, and we are determined to seek, promote and praise violence and terrorism at our universities,” the school said Monday night.
Colombia has been the center of abominable demonstrations against Israel since Hamas' attack on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023, when Hamas erupted in a wider conflict.
Protesters camped on campus green and occupied the school building last spring. In both cases, NYPD action was required.
Masked students also raided Colombian classes in modern Israel and threw them around the hateful leaflet in January. The anti-Israel group said at least two Bernard students were banished after the uproar.
Ali Schlezi, co-founder of Colombia's Jewish Alumni Association, told the Post that Colombia has not done enough to train student protesters who have overturned campus life for Jewish students.
“Now the government shows that it means business to Colombia,” Schrej said.
“The only question is whether Colombian leaders will finally take action or worsen by ignoring the discrimination faced by Jewish students over the past year and a half.”
Colombia's senior Elia Nagoldin also welcomed the growing pressure from the federal government.
“I'm not a fan of government intervention,” she said. “But when nothing else goes well, I can appreciate the strategy.”
