Education secretary on canceled Columbia money: 'We are on the right track'

Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Sunday discussed the possible restoration of $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, saying that the Trump administration and the school “are on the right track now to make sure the final negotiations to unfreeze that money will be in place.”

The Justice Department's Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced earlier this month that the federal government had ended $400 million in grants to the university during an antisemitism probe into the school.

McMahon said on CNN's "State of the Union" that she and Columbia University interim President Katrina Armstrong had talked, later adding that the school leader "knew that this was her responsibility to make sure that children on her campus were safe."

“We've talked and I believe that they are on the right track so that we can now move forward,” McMahon told CNN’s Dana Bash.

“Does that mean that the money will be unfrozen?” Bash asked.

“That means that we are on the right track now to make sure the final negotiations to unfreeze that money will be in place,” McMahon responded.

In a joint statement, the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and the U.S. General Services Administration previously said the Columbia cancellation occurred due to "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."

Columbia said last Friday that it had agreed to demands that the Trump administration had laid out to start discussions on having the money returned.

The Hill has reached out to Columbia for comment.

Topics

What Happens to Student Loans if the Education Dept. Closes?

The White House released an executive order instructing the secretary of education to begin shutting down the department — but not to cancel your debt.
The New York Times - 3d
US colleges warned of ‘enforcement actions’ over antisemitism allegations

Warning comes after cancellation of $400m in funding to Columbia and detention of student activist Mahmoud Khalil. The US education department’s civil rights office issued warnings on Monday to ...
The Guardian - Mar. 11
Jewish scholars condemn cancelation of federal funding to Columbia

A group of 400 Jewish professors and students have written a letter condemning the cancelation of some $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, a move the Trump administration says ...
The Hill - 4d
McMahon says Trump admin will 'do everything legally' in dismantling of Education Department

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Thursday President Trump is committed to using legal measures to dismantle the Department of Education. “I think he was correct in saying that we were ...
The Hill - 4d
Trump is setting the US on a path to educational authoritarianism

While we watch students getting handcuffed, vague new guidelines create a culture of fear over teaching our history. On 14 February, the US Department of Education ’s office of civil rights issued ...
The Guardian - Mar. 17
Rubio confirms ICE arrest of pro-Palestinian Columbia student protest leader

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist, by U.S. Immigration and Customs ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
Trump cancels $400 million in federal funds to Columbia University

The Trump administration announced Friday that it is canceling $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University, saying the school is not doing enough to protect its Jewish students against ...
NBC News - Mar. 8
Trump says McMahon made decisions on mass layoffs at Education Department

President Trump on Wednesday said Education Secretary Linda McMahon was behind the mass layoffs at the agency, not mentioning tech billionaire Elon Musk while defending the overhaul. “When we cut— ...
The Hill - Mar. 12
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

If you face disruption because flights are cancelled or delayed you could be entitled to help.
BBC News - 4d
Obama-era Education secretary warns Trump against shuttering department

Former Education Secretary Arne Duncan issued President Trump a warning over plans to shutter the Department of Education, decrying "you break it, you own it." Duncan, in an interview with CNN's ...
The Hill - Mar. 8
Education secretary: Mass layoffs first step toward total shutdown

Education Secretary Linda McMahon affirmed late Tuesday that mass layoffs are the first step toward shuttering the Education Department — a long-time goal of President Trump's since his time on the ...
The Hill - Mar. 12
Mahmoud Khalil sues Columbia, House Education Committee over student records

Detained activist Mahmoud Khalil filed a lawsuit Thursday against Columbia University and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to stop the school from giving student disciplinary ...
The Hill - Mar. 13
Fired Education Department worker: 'We got the sense that we were disposable.'

Joe Murphy worked at the Education Department for almost 20 years.
ABC News - Mar. 13
Everybody dance: Nile Rodgers’ 20 greatest tracks – ranked!

As the 72-year-old prepares for Glastonbury with Chic, we rate the best of his guitar licks and songwriting magic for Madonna, Diana Ross, Sister Sledge and more. It was criminal that Mathis’s ...
The Guardian - Mar. 13
Former Obama-era Education secretary says Trump cuts are "morally and educationally bankrupt"

The Trump administration is cutting the Education Department's workforce in half. Arne Duncan, who served as secretary of education under former President Barack Obama, joins "The Daily Report" to ...
CBS News - Mar. 12
Trump ‘can’t unilaterally dismantle' Dept. of Education without Congress, says fmr. secretary

President Trump signs an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. Former Education Secretary John King Jr. says he expects to see bipartisan support in Congress to maintain ...
NBC News - 4d
DOGE mischaracterizes a study as transgender, and USDA cancels it

"CANCELLED: $600,000 grant to study 'menstrual cycles in transgender men,'" Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on X last week. That's not what it was.
CBS News - Mar. 10
Treasury secretary: 'There is no reason we need to have a recession'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday sought to mitigate concerns about the state of the economy, after saying this weekend that “there are no guarantees” when it comes to a recession. In an ...
The Hill - 6d
When will the Department of Education be dissolved? Secretary McMahon doesn't know

Linda McMahon said Friday that President Donald Trump "intends" to sign an executive order to dissolve the Department of Education -- but it's still unclear when.
ABC News - Mar. 7
For education reform, restore power to the states

President Trump and Linda McMahon, his new Education secretary, are working to return education to states, school districts and families by scaling back the Department of Education and giving ...
The Hill - 5d
Rubio: 83 percent of USAID programs to be canceled

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that 83 percent of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) programs would be canceled, essentially capping a dramatic fall for the ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
NASCAR figuring out if building new track in Fontana is the 'right thing to do'

NASCAR says it doesn't want to abandon Southern California, but it isn't fully committing to building a short track on the former site of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 10
Border czar on Columbia arrest: 'Absolutely we can' deport a legal immigrant

Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, said Monday that federal authorities “absolutely can” deport a legal immigrant after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a Columbia ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
Secretary of state says 83% of USAID programs are being canceled

USAID has been the target of DOGE, the Elon Musk-helmed agency created in an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office.
CBS News - Mar. 10
In these dark times, Americans must harness the power of the civil rights movement again | Al Sharpton

We have power as individuals and communities to boycott companies that don’t respect us and support those who stand with us. It can often be challenging to keep track of everything in Donald ...
The Guardian - 3d
Warren warns of 'dire consequences' of Education Department firings for student loans

Sen. Warren urges Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reinstate Department of Education employees who were critical to the nation’s federal student aid process.
ABC News - 4d
Trump signs executive order aiming to dismantle Department of Education

President Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education, calling for Congress to support its full elimination.
NBC News - 4d
Trump moves against Department of Education: What to know

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle the Department of Education as much as she can, carving a path of legislative and legal ...
The Hill - 4d
New lawsuit alleges Education Department's Office for Civil Rights cannot fulfill responsibilities after cuts

A lawsuit filed Friday alleges the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is unable to fulfill its mandated obligations due to the Trump administration's changes as it seeks to ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
CD account or money market account: Which is better now?

Both CDs and money market accounts have attractive features for savers right now. Here's what to consider.
CBS News - Mar. 10
Legal Experts Question Trump’s Authority to Cancel Columbia’s Funding

The government has demanded drastic changes to the university before it will consider reinstating $400 million. Lee C. Bollinger, the school’s former president, calls it an “existential threat.”
The New York Times - Mar. 17
Trump signs executive order to dismantle the Education Department

Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle the department. Complete elimination would require congressional approval.
NBC News - 4d
Trump set to sign executive order shuttering the Education Department

The president campaigned extensively on a promise to dismantle the department and appointed an education secretary keen to carry out the task.
NBC News - 5d
Trump signs executive order to dismantle Education Department

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at dismantling the Department of Education, arguing that shifting money back to the states will improve student test scores. However, fully ...
NBC News - 4d
Top House Democrats urge McMahon, Trump administration to reverse decision on Department of Education

Top House Democrats urged Education Secretary Linda McMahon and the Trump administration to reverse a Thursday move to begin dismantling the Department of Education. “Students, teachers, and ...
The Hill - 4d
What to do if you’re caught up in Heathrow disruption

Your rights as the flight cancellations and disruption mount
Financial Times - 3d
Heathrow Closure: What Are Your Rights If Your Flight Is Delayed or Canceled?

Around 220,000 passengers were expected to travel through London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday. The airport’s closure is expected to have ripple effects worldwide.
The New York Times - 3d
Does Columbia still merit the name of a university? | Rashid Khalidi

Columbia has long been run more as a business empire than as an educational institution. Now it’s acting like Vichy on the Hudson. It was never about eliminating antisemitism. It was always about ...
The Guardian - 4h
Amid stock market uncertainty, here are 3 ways to protect your money now

Looking for effective ways to protect your money right now? Here are three savings accounts to consider opening.
CBS News - Mar. 13