Columbia University has caved in to demands from the Trump administration in an effort to restore $400 million in federal funding that was yanked over how the school addresses antisemitism on campus.
The Ivy League school agreed to ban masks, empower 36 campus police officers with new powers to arrest students and appoint a senior vice provost with broad authority to oversee the department of Middle East, South Asian and African Studies as well as the Center for Palestine Studies, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Columbia became the epicenter of anti-Israel protests following Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Students, outsiders and faculty members voiced opposition to Israel during the demonstrations. Meanwhile, Jewish students voiced concerns about antisemitism on the New York City campus, as well as disruptions by protestors.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration revoked $400 million in grants and contracts from the school over its failure to address antisemitism on its campus.
"Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses - only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them," said Education Secretary Linda McMahon said at the time.
"Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding," she added. "For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the university.
