Trump order targets pro-Palestinians to combat antisemitism
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at combating antisemitism, particularly on college campuses.
The order directs federal agencies to take action against antisemitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence, calling it an “unprecedented wave” of harassment.
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The Trump administration is demanding Columbia University make widespread changes to its disciplinary policies and admissions to reverse the cancellation of about $400 million in federal funds.
The New York City-based Ivy League university has faced intense scrutiny from the Trump administration over its handling of pro-Palestinian student protests in 2024. Last week, the federal government said it was pulling $400 million in grants and contracts from the university — citing the school’s failure to combat antisemitism.
In a letter Thursday, officials from the General Services Administration, Department of Education, and Department of Health and Human Services outlined “immediate next steps” for the university to fulfill before discussions on restoring federal funding could continue. Details of the letter were also reported by The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
The government demanded that the university respond to the letter no later than March 20.
“We expect your immediate compliance with these critical next steps, after which we hope to open a conversation about immediate and long-term structural reforms that will return Columbia to its original mission of innovative research and academic excellence,” the letter states.
A university spokesperson told the Times that the school was “reviewing the letter” and added that it has been “committed at all times to advancing our mission, supporting our students, and addressing all forms of discrimination and hatred on our campus.”
Columbia University did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Demands include a formal definition of antisemitism, mask bans
The letter states that since the Trump administration announced the cuts on March 7, “your counsel hasasked to discuss ‘next steps.'” Officials noted that a response to the letter was necessary as “a precondition for formal negotiations regarding Columbia University’s continued financial relationship with the United States government.”
Officials also accused the university of “fundamentally” failing to protect students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment.
The government requested that the university formalize and adopt a definition of antisemitism; ban masks that are “intended to conceal identity or intimidate others;” and place the Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies departments under academic receivership for a minimum of five years.
Other demands included:
- Enforcing existing disciplinary policies, such as completing disciplinary proceedings — expulsion or multi-year suspension — for pro-Palestinian student protesters.
- Abolishing the University Judicial Board and consolidating all disciplinary processes under the Office of the President.
- Provide plans to “hold all student groups accountable” and reform undergraduate admissions, international recruiting, and graduate admissions practices to comply with federal law.
- Strengthen university law enforcement.
Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, described the letter on social media as saying: “We’ll destroy Columbia unless you destroy it first.”
Columbia punishes students who occupied campus building in 2024
Earlier Thursday, Columbia University announced a range of punishments for students who occupied Hamilton Hall, a campus building, during pro-Palestinian protests last spring.
The university said in a statement Thursday that its “judicial board determined findings and issued sanctions to students ranging from multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions related to the occupation of Hamilton Hall last spring.”
The university’s judicial board is comprised of students, faculty, and staff selected by the university Senate. The university did not release the names of students disciplined, nor did it say how many students faced punishments.
One of the students expelled was Grant Miner, the president of Columbia’s student workers union and a Ph.D. student in the English and comparative literature department, a United Auto Workers news release said Thursday night. Miner was expelled just a day before contract negotiations with the university were set to begin.
Columbia University became the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests last year as demonstrations erupted across the country. The protests began after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023 and the subsequent U.S.-supported Israeli assault on Gaza.
Protesters demanded that university endowments divest from Israeli interests and that the U.S. end military assistance to Israel, among other demands. In recent weeks, demonstrators around the nation have rallied to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student and activist at Columbia University.
Khalil was detained by federal immigration agents last weekend for his pro-Palestinian advocacy efforts.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas and Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY; Reuters