Trump antisemitism task force chief: Columbia settlement 'not even close'

Leo Terrell, chief of the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, says Columbia University is “not even close” to meeting the Trump administration's demands for reforms in order to return some $400 million in canceled federal funds.

“There is no agreement. They’re not even close … to having those funds unfrozen,” Terrell told hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby on "Cats & Cosby."

The comments come after a report by The Wall Street Journal that said Columbia was close to reaching a deal with the federal government over the administration’s demands for the university to change some of its policies, including changes to its disciplinary policies and putting certain departments under academic receivership, before discussions could be had about restoring the funds.

Republicans have accused several top schools, including Columbia, of failing to protect students from antisemitism during last year's protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

The Trump administration has also targeted the immigration status of multiple participants in Columbia's demonstrations.

“There was a rumor out there that there’s a settlement approaching to restore Columbia‘s $200 million that we froze. Let me be very clear … that’s not true … Columbia University is not an example of a university that is free from antisemitism,” Terrell said.

“I’m going on a campus tour to 10 universities. Columbia is one of them. And we’re going to tell them that … if you want, federal funding … you have to allow Jewish-American students to go to school without being harassed or tormented,” he added.

The deadline for Columbia to accept the terms of the Trump administration was Thursday, but no updates have been given on the status of negotiations.

Topics

Columbia University signals it will comply with Trump administration's demands

Columbia University signaled Wednesday that it would comply with the Trump administration's demands in return for restoring $400 million in federal funding, saying it would "engage in constructive ...
NBC News - 2d
Leo Terrell, Trump’s antisemitism chief, shares post by prominent neo-Nazi

Tweet was from Patrick Casey, ex-head of a defunct racist group, who said Trump can ‘revoke someone’s Jew card’. The leader of a prominent Jewish group has condemned Leo Terrell, the head of ...
The Guardian - 4d
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
DOJ drug, organized crime task force chief fired

The head of a Justice Department task force dealing with organized crime and drug trafficking was fired by the Trump administration Friday, and he indicated he believes politics may have played a ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
Trump is using antisemitism as a pretext for a war on the first amendment | Judith Levine

The Trump administration is not interested in combating antisemitism. It just wants to silence its opponents instead. On Saturday night, agents of the Department of Homeland Security arrested and ...
The Guardian - Mar. 12
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 - 1d
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 ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
Columbia under pressure to resist Trump administration demands

Scholars say government threat to further cut federal funding at Ivy League university contains ‘glaring legal problems’
Financial Times - 5d
It’s not about antisemitism: The real reason Trump is going after Columbia University

The Trump administration’s actions are part of a concerted assault on key institutions critical to the functioning of government and democracy.
The Hill - Mar. 12