Columbia University “must adhere and comply with the public agreement to crack down on anti-Israel protests if Ivy League schools want to reclaim $400 million in cancelled funding, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Tuesday.
When asked by a reporter, McMahon replied, “What if it becomes clear that Colombia does not meet its requirements and that it is complying with the agreement they said they will?”
“They must comply with and follow the terms we have set. [we’ve] McMahon told a small group of reporters over breakfast in the education department in Washington, D.C.
Columbia University on Friday revealed several policy changes, including allowing campus police officers to arrest, protest rules, and discipline. Policy changes came after the Trump administration cancelled $400 million in grants and contracts with universities. It cited how the university “waived” its obligation to “comply with all federal differentiation laws” to receive federal funds, and “failed to act in the face of sustained harassment of Jewish students.”
In the spring of 2024, an anti-Israel camp was established on the lawns of Columbia University. Several students were suspended and hundreds more protesters were arrested for involvement in the camp, but a second camp was established and remained until the end of April, when the New York Police Department raided the camp.
Several anti-Israel protesters took over Hamilton Hall in violent invasions, during which they locked up university custodians, destroyed buildings and destroyed university property.
Other camps were established at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to support camps at Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), George Washington University, and Columbia University.
McMahon confirmed with reporters that there is no definitive timeline for regaining university funding, as the government assesses whether schools support the end of the bargain.
“There's no time slot,” she said.
“I think they want it to be restored as soon as possible. We're working with them. Our task force has already met them. We fully agree to hold regular, continuous meetings,” she said.
Former Colombian President Minush Shafiq was forced to resign last year after failing to contain anti-Israel and anti-Semitic protests that swept campus after a horrifying attack carried out by Israeli Hamasterolists on October 7, 2023. Officials from other universities were also forced to resign.
Shafik has been replaced by interim president Dr. Katrina Armstrong. Katrina Armstrong is the dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and is Virgiros University of Physicians and Surgeons.
Read more: Colombian professional terrorist activists celebrate October 7th: “Resistance is glorious!”
McMahon discussed the recent meeting with Dr. Armstrong, which she called “a very candid conversation,” and said “the preliminary condition that Columbia agreed to is to reach the table for a stronger and deeper conversation.” McMahon also believes that Dr. Armstrong is “very loyal” to his desire to handle inherited matters and says he is “motivated to confirm Colombian students.” [are] safety. “
McMahon told Dr. Armstrong that he spoke specifically to Dr. Armstrong before it was recognized that the elect was likely to be elected. Relationship with terrorist organizationsstaff management to encourage destructive displays.
“I also believe there will be teachers who will be riding in Colombia.
Related: Professor Columbia celebrated October 7th to teach a course on Zionism
McMahon stressed that the administration's actions were not to crack down on freedom of speech, but to restore safety and ensure an environment where Jewish students are simply not threatened to attend classes and cross campus.
“[Dr. Armstrong] I, like I am, I clearly believe in freedom of exchange and arguments of ideas. But students have to be safe there…and all you know is that they really were placed on steroids after October 7th,” she said.
Columbia isn't the only university under the Trump administration's careful eyes. McMahon said the Ministry of Education (DOE) is in a task force with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to regularly meet and update destructive anti-Israel activities on university campuses.
Earlier this month, the DOE warned 60 universities investigating Title VI violations related to anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination of potential enforcement actions if they do not protect Jewish students on campus.
“We don't consider this to be Damocles' sword hanging from the university. [It’s] I just understand that I will look to this to protect my students,” McMahon said.
McMahon Chief of Staff Rachel Ogresby added that “almost everything” of the 60 schools under investigation was linked to complaints that “we didn't follow up by the administration issued during the Biden administration.”
“So what we're trying to deal with is that we've been experiencing a backlog of big complaints since October 7th,” says Oglesby.
Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on x @thekat_hamilton.
