US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon accuses Columbia of failing to protect Jewish students post-Hamas attack, triggering potential loss of accreditation and federal funds.
Washington, D.C. | June 5, 2025 —
In a dramatic escalation, the Trump administration has taken steps to revoke Columbia University’s accreditation, alleging that the Ivy League institution failed to protect its Jewish students following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon issued a letter on Wednesday to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, accusing Columbia’s leadership of “deliberate indifference” to antisemitic harassment on campus. “Columbia no longer appears to meet the Commission’s accreditation standards,” McMahon wrote, citing the university’s alleged breach of anti-discrimination laws.
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The revocation of accreditation could have profound consequences, as it governs access to billions of dollars in federal student aid. The move follows a broader campaign by President Donald Trump, who earlier stripped Columbia of $400 million in federal funding in February, citing rampant antisemitism.
The letter accused Columbia’s leadership of failing to provide “meaningful protection” for Jewish students, leading to “severe and pervasive harassment” that undermined their access to educational opportunities. McMahon called Columbia’s actions “immoral” and “unlawful.”
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Despite Columbia’s cooperation with the administration — including reorganizing its Middle Eastern Studies department and making structural changes — the White House remains unsatisfied with the measures taken.
Columbia is not alone. Harvard University is also under federal scrutiny, facing similar allegations of antisemitism and legal proceedings that may impact its accreditation and funding.
The Trump administration’s moves come amid a wave of campus protests and heightened tensions in US universities over the Israel-Gaza conflict. This step marks one of the most severe federal actions against an American university in recent memory.
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Columbia University, Donald Trump, US Education Department, antisemitism allegations, Linda McMahon, federal funding, accreditation crisis, Jewish student safety, Hamas attack, Ivy League controversy, US university protests, Middle States Commission