The recent cancellation of a $400 million cancellation in a federal grant and a contract to Columbia University was considered a major wake-up call to the country's universities by the Trump administration's joint task force to combat anti-Semitism.
In a press release, the task force announced that the “decisive action” was “notification to all schools and universities that receive federal dollars.”
Leo Terrell, leader of the federal task force fighting anti-Semitism and senior adviser to Civil Rights Aide, told Fox News Digital that Columbia was the first target for funding cuts, as schools were “the worst case scenario” when it came to allowing this type of action to continue.
Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive director of Orthodox Union, told Fox News Digital that “the more dramatic action there is. [Trump] Management seems ready… it seems like the approach needed for something urgent, as we've been facing. “Hauer added that he has “a lot of hope” in his community.
Trump administrators don't tolerate anti-Semitism in schools, Leo Terrell says as a New York school under the microscope
Protesters will hold a demonstration on February 2, 2024 near Columbia University in New York City. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Hauer added that recent protests at Columbia and Bernard University “reminiscent of how alive the issue is. [of campus antisemitism] teeth. ”
Terrell said it would direct President Donald Trump's executive order to increase efforts to combat anti-Semitism involving the US General Services Agency and the FBI, as well as the Judiciary, education, health and human services, homeland security and the state. Terrell said newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon was extensively involved in this in accordance with the following directive: [U.S. Attorney General] Pam Bondy. ”
He says experts within his task force will assess schools based on around nine criteria to determine whether they are properly protecting Jewish students. In addition to searching for evidence of hate crimes and investigating the school's tax-free status, Terrell said the task force would search for violations of Title VI and Title VII under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Title VI protects Americans who engage in programs that receive federal funding from discrimination based on race, color and country of origin. Former President Joe Biden's administration used Title VI when the Department of Education's Civil Rights Office investigated hostile anti-Semitic environments on K-12 and university campuses. Title VII prevents federal employment discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or color.
The task force move in Columbia follows weeks of protests at Bernard University, which is associated with the university. In January, students attacked a classroom in Colombia, saying, “It's said. [fliers] The following month, more than 50 protesters were allegedly taking over the Bernard University building and assaulting employees.
Colombian students explain the anti-Israel protest: “It's scary”
Leo Terrell (Reuters/Kent Nishimura)
According to the Israeli era, in the March 5 protest on Bernard's campus, protesters were photographed with pamphlets placed by the “Hamas Media Office” in addition to photos of former Hezbollah terrorist chief Hassan Nasrara and a sticker photo featuring the former chairman of Hamastello organization Yahiashinwar. In a press release, Columbia confirmed that four students were arrested during Bernard's “confusion.” Students were then “stops and restricted from campus.”
The situation in Colombia became even more complicated after former student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by the US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allegedly defended Hamas. Terrell explained that Halil's arrest was not made at the request of the task force, but that “all this comes from Trump's executive order.”
Trump vows that anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil was “the first arrest of many.”
The NYPD cleared pro-Palestinian protesters at Bernard University after a group of student protesters took over the Milstein Library on March 5, 2025. (via Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Getty Images)
Colombian representatives did not answer questions about cancelling the grant, stance on ice on campus, or plans to continue hiring anti-Israel professors, who have been accused of spreading anti-Semitic views.
Colombia's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, issued a statement on March 7th, saying “Colombia takes the government's actions very seriously.” Armstrong said, “We have tried to assure the entire Columbian community that we are committed to working with the federal government to address legitimate concerns. As such, Columbia continues to take serious action to combat anti-Semitism on campus. This is our number one priority.”
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When it comes to demonstrating effective efforts to combat anti-Semitism, Terrell said the school must “earn trust.” Citing as an example Columbia took in response to the cuts in funds, Terrell asked, “Is it the money driving them, or is it their concern for Jewish-American students?”
Terrell also said there would be no special rewards for schools that managed anti-Semitism without federal involvement.
“They have a fundamental right to protect Jewish Americans and Jewish students,” he said.
