Trump administration outlines 'next steps' toward restoring Columbia grants

The Trump administration sent a letter to Columbia University outlining “next steps” the institution must take to restore some of its federal funding.

The administration earlier this month cut off $400 million in federal funding to the university due to alleged inaction on antisemitism.

The letter, obtained by The Hill, said the “next steps” are a “precondition for formal negotiations regarding Columbia University’s continued financial relationship with the United States government.”

The General Services Administration, Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services have nine actions they want Columbia to take to begin these negotiations.

These include enforcing existing disciplinary rules; centralizing disciplinary processes to the Office of the President; creating time, plan and manner rules for protesting and banning masks except for religious or health reasons, in which cases individuals would still need to wear their IDs to show who they are.

Other steps include creating a plan to hold student groups accountable; adopting a formal definition of antisemitism; empowering internal law enforcement; putting Middle East, South Asian and African Studies under academic receiverships and creating a plan for admissions reform.

“U.S. taxpayers invest enormously in U.S. colleges and universities, including Columbia University, and it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that all recipients are responsible stewards of federal funds. Columbia University, however, has fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment in addition to other alleged violations of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” the letter to the university says.

The Trump administration expects a response by March 20.

The Hill has reached out to Columbia University for comment.

The letter comes a day after Columbia announced disciplinary measures for students who took over a campus building last spring during pro-Palestinian protests.

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