Trump removes $ 400 million in New York University Columbia-Liberation
« Immediate deletion » of $ 400 million in federal subsidies. Since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, it is the first time that the Republican President has announced a direct offensive against the finances of a university. « The federal government will not agree to support an educational institution like Columbia who does not protect Jewish students and staff »justifies Leo Terrell, who directs the working group on anti -Semitism of the US Ministry of Justice. A budget cut which is also part of A series of attack by the Trump administration against science. The total budget of the establishment is $ 6,600 million.
The republican president had universities in the viewfinder throughout his campaign, denouncing their inaction in the face of the demonstrations of Propalestinian students who rocked American campuses to protest against the war waged by Israel in Gaza after the attacks in Hamas. « The government has decided to end federal funding from any university or school which authorizes illegal demonstrations »he wrote on Tuesday on his Truth Social platform. He also promised to expel in their country of origin foreign students « Agitators ». « Since October 7 (2023), Jewish students have faced incessant violence, intimidation and anti -Semitic harassment on their campuses – and are ignored by those who are supposed to protect them », writes the Minister of Education Linda McMahon.
The University of Columbia, a private establishment of the prestigious and selective Ivy League, which has some 30,000 students and where the budget for a year of schooling amounts to around 90,000 dollars, had become the sometimes tense epicenter against Israeli bombings in Gaza and the support of the Biden administration in Israel.
Three deans of the prestigious American University Columbia had been suspended, in June 2024, After the publication of captures of sarcastic sms exchanged during a round table about the fight against anti -Semitism on American campuses. These messages would have revealed « Old anti -Semitic prejudices » According to the Presidency of the University.
At the call of its president, who has since resigned, New York police had dislodged Manu Militari from the campus a few dozen Propalestinian activists and students on April 30, 2024. The president of Columbia had been accused of not fighting firmly against comments or acts aimed at Jewish students, but also to have had The too heavy hand against groups of Propalestinian students.
Other sanctions could follow. « These deletions represent the first series of actions and others should follow »says the American administration, in a press release co -signed by the Ministries of Justice, Education and Health and Social Services which denounce « Inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students ». The details of the scholarships and deleted contracts has not been specified.
