‘Failed to protect Jewish students': Trump administration threatens Columbia University's accreditation
The US Department of Education on Wednesday said that it has notified a university accreditation body that the Columbia University has violated the anti-discrimination laws as it alleged that the university failed to protect the civil rights of Jewish students on its campus, in an attempt to strip Columbia off its accreditation credentials.
The Education department further alleged that Columbia University's failure to meet the accreditation criteria means it doesn't meet the standards of accreditation set by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
In a letter, Education Secretary Linda McMahon alleged that Columbia University 'acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students in a manner that violated federal anti-discrimination laws,' BBC reported.
'Accreditors have an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid. They determine which institutions are eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants,' Linda further explained.
Columbia University looked the other way as Jewish students faced harassment—breaking Title VI protections. @usedgov has stepped in and alerted Columbia's accreditor to demand the protection of every student's rights and safety—no exceptions.https://t.co/3jswO9TTql
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) June 4, 2025
US President Donald Trump has criticized Columbia University and other US colleges for not being able to protect the rights of Jewish students on their respective campuses, while the war in Gaza was ongoing and anti-war and pro-Palestine protests took place in the US varsities' campus.
A Columbia University spokesperson said in a statement that it has addressed the Education department's concerns directly with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and continues to work with the federal government to counter antisemitism on campus.
Columbia, like other Ivy League schools, has been facing pressure from the Trump administration for months. In February, White House stripped Columbia of $400m in federal funding, alleging antisemitism at the campus.
It remains to be seen how the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an independent body, would respond to the notification.
In her letter, McMahon stated 'Leadership of Columbia failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia's campus.'
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