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By Andrew Stanton
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Columbia University cut 180 jobs on Tuesday after President Donald Trump's administration pulled funding from the New York school earlier this year.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump has taken aim at colleges and universities over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests that began last year. The administration accused university leaders of not doing enough to push back against antisemitism. Critics, however, have said the administration is conflating antisemitism with criticism of Israel, and that its efforts to target these universities violate free-speech rights.
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Columbia is among those that have faced scrutiny from Trump. Earlier this year, the Ivy League university announced it would give in to some of the administration's demands, such as banning masks that conceal someone's identity and hiring 36 campus officers "who will have the ability to remove individuals from campus and/or arrest them when appropriate."
Others, such as Harvard University, have said they will continue to fight the Trump administration despite threats to cuts that could affect research funding.
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What To Know
Columbia offered an update on its research efforts on Tuesday.
The university is continuing discussions with the federal government to resume "activity on these research awards and additional other awards that have remained active, but unpaid," the university wrote in a letter led by Acting President Claire Shipman.
"We are working on and planning for every eventuality, but the strain in the meantime, financially and on our research mission, is intense. Therefore, the second prong of our efforts is to take action to adjust—and in some cases reduce—expenditures based on current financial realities," the letter reads.
The school will be "running lighter footprints of research infrastructure in some areas and, in others, maintaining a level of research continuity as we pursue alternate funding sources," according to the letter.
"In some cases, schools and departments are winding down activity but remain prepared to reestablish capabilities if support is restored. Across the research portfolio we have had to make difficult choices and unfortunately, today, nearly 180 of our colleagues who have been working, in whole or in part, on impacted federal grants, will receive notices of non-renewal or termination," it continues.
That is about 20 percent of those funded by the terminated grants.
What People Are Saying
The letter from Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman, Provost and professor of Astronomy and Physics Angela V. Olinto, Executive Vice President for Finance Anne Sullivan, and Executive Vice President for Research and professor of Computer Science Jeannette Wing: "Federal actions over the last several months and our perspective on the scale and scope of future funding challenges requires that we look across the University, not just to areas directly impacted by federally funded research, and continue to support Columbia as a national leader in higher education, pioneering research, outstanding patient care, and global societal impact. We will continue to make prudent budget decisions that will ensure long-term financial stability across the University, including making significant budget reductions within the University's central administration."
A Columbia University spokesperson, in a statement to Newsweek: "The University is taking important steps to help secure financial flexibility as we continue to navigate significant cuts to federally funded research. These actions include adjusting research activities, maintaining current salary levels, launching voluntary retirement incentives, and reducing personnel related to terminated awards on all campuses. These difficult decisions—especially those that impact our valued team members—are being made to preserve our institution's critical research and research capabilities."
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, in a statement earlier this year: "Institutions that receive federal funds have a responsibility to protect all students from discrimination. Columbia's apparent failure to uphold their end of this basic agreement raises very serious questions about the institution's fitness to continue doing business with the United States government."
What Happens Next
Trump's legal battles with colleges and universities will likely continue over the coming months and years. Harvard, for instance, has sued the administration. Trump has since said he plans to end its tax-exempt status and halt federal grants.
Columbia will continue to take actions to preserve its "financial flexibility," the letter reads. Most salaries will also be kept at their current level without increases for the next fiscal year, according to Columbia.
Update 5/6/25, 4:35 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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