Columbia University has been accused of violating civil rights law by ignoring Jewish student harassment, following the Trump administration’s latest accusation of antisemitism.
On May 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that Columbia University violated rules by acting with deliberate indifference towards student-on-student harassment of Jewish students from October 7, 2023, through the present.
Notice of Violation articulates extensive factual findings that span over 19 months in which the University continually failed to protect Jewish students.
The findings are based on information and documents obtained during the investigation, including witness interviews, examination of written policies and procedures, reliable media reports that contemporaneously capture antisemitic incidents and events at Columbia University, and reports from Columbia University’s own Task Force on Antisemitism, reads the official statement.
The Trump administration has withdrawn $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, citing its response to antisemitism allegations. However, no new action was mentioned in Thursday’s announcement.
“We encourage Columbia University to work with us to come to an agreement that reflects meaningful changes that will truly protect Jewish students,” says Anthony Archeval, Acting Director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS.
Columbia University celebrated its 271st academic year on May 21. Nearly 16,000 students graduated in the Columbia University class of 2025, where more than 6,800 of them represented 141 countries outside the United States.
Last month, Columbia University launched a new University fund, supported by alumni, to assist international students who need help managing unanticipated expenses and other challenges right now.
Since mid-May, the University of California, Berkeley, is facing action from the US authorities for failing to meet foreign funding disclosures and sharing incomplete or inaccurate.
The Trump administration has already barred Harvard from hosting international students on May 22. Harvard University’s SEVP certification has been revoked, making even the existing foreign students look for another SEVP-certified college.
The matter of concern for the US authorities against certain US universities is on two counts – first, failing to maintain a safe campus amid anti-American protests and alleged Jewish violence, and second is sharing incomplete and inaccurate funding disclosures with the US Department of Education.