The Voice News: The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has begun proceedings to revoke Columbia University’s accreditation, citing the institution’s alleged failure to address antisemitic harassment on campus.
Why it matters:
This marks a major escalation by the Trump administration, which has already withdrawn approximately $400 million in federal funding from Columbia since March. The university had previously complied with White House demands, including strict disciplinary actions against pro-Palestinian protesters.
A federal investigation alleges that Columbia violated civil rights laws by “acting with deliberate indifference” toward the harassment of Jewish students from October 7, 2023, to the present.
Columbia’s response:
A university spokesperson acknowledged the concerns raised by the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights and said Columbia has addressed them directly with its accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
“Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism on our campus. We take this issue seriously and are continuing to work with the federal government to address it,” the spokesperson said in an email to Axios.
MSCHE confirmed receiving the DOE’s notification but declined to comment further.
The latest:
In its official notice to MSCHE, the DOE stated that Columbia is “in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws and therefore fails to meet accreditation standards.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Columbia’s leadership showed “deliberate indifference” following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, failing to protect Jewish students from harassment.
“Accreditors are gatekeepers of federal student aid and must ensure institutions meet legal and ethical standards,” McMahon added.
What’s next:
The move may signal similar action against other institutions facing scrutiny from the Trump administration, including Harvard University, which recently lost $100 million in federal agency grants.
The DOE cited President Trump’s “Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education” executive order, emphasizing the department’s duty to report noncompliance to accreditors.
