From: Vitez, Kaitlyn <Kaitlyn.Vitez@...>
Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 12:32 PM
Subject: DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Initial Cancelation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University Worth $400 Million
Dear colleagues,
Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the immediate cancelation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the school's continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. These cancelations represent the first round of action and additional cancelations are expected to follow. The Task Force is continuing to review and coordinate across federal agencies to identify additional cancelations that could be made swiftly. DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA are taking this action as members of the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. Columbia University currently holds more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments.
On March 3, the Task Force notified the Acting President of Columbia University that it would conduct a comprehensive review of the university's federal contracts and grants in light of ongoing investigations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Chaos and anti-Semitic harassment have continued on and near campus in the days since. Columbia has not responded to the Task Force.
President Trump has been clear that any college or university that allows illegal protests and repeatedly fails to protect students from anti-Semitic harassment on campus will be subject to the loss of federal funding.
The decisive action by the DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA to cancel Columbia's grants and contracts serves as a notice to every school and university that receives federal dollars that this Administration will use all the tools at its disposal to protect Jewish students and end anti-Semitism on college campuses.
GSA will assist HHS and ED in issuing stop-work orders on grants and contracts that Columbia holds with those agencies. These stop-work orders will immediately freeze the university's access to these funds. Additionally, GSA will be assisting all agencies in issuing stop work orders and terminations for contracts held by Columbia University.
The web version of this ED press release will be posted shortly in our newsroom. For additional information, you may refer to the HHS, ED, and GSA joint press release from Monday, March 3.
Best,
Kaitlyn Vitez
Higher Education Liaison
Office of Communications and Outreach
U.S. Department of Education
Email: Kaitlyn.Vitez@...
Work Cell: (202) 550-7359
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Kathleen Larmett
Executive Director
National Council of University Research Administrators
Washington, DC
202-466-3894
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