Trump’s Education Department Targets Columbia University Accreditation Over Antisemitism Claims

Trump’s Education Department Targets Columbia University Accreditation Over Antisemitism Claims

Columbia University just got a very public threat from none other than Donald J. Trump’s administration — and it’s not just bluster. The Department of Education is now calling on Columbia’s accreditor to reconsider the school’s official status. Yep, that Ivy League shine could lose some of its polish.

At the center of this political-academic tug-of-war? Alleged failures to protect Jewish students on campus.

In a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday, the Education Department told the Middle States Commission on Higher Education — the body that accredits Columbia — that the university may no longer meet federal civil rights standards. Specifically, they pointed to what they say is Columbia’s “deliberate indifference” to antisemitic harassment on campus after the October 7 Hamas terror attacks.

“Accreditors are legally required to ensure schools are following the law,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon told the WSJ. “When they don’t, we step in. That’s exactly what’s happening here.”

Columbia, for its part, says it’s cooperating with the government and taking the concerns seriously. A university spokesperson told the WSJ the school is “committed to combating antisemitism” and “upholding the safety and dignity of all students.” This fight didn’t start yesterday.

Back in April, the Trump administration pulled a $400 million federal grant from Columbia after what it called “repeated failures” to address antisemitism on campus. And now, this threat to its accreditation? That’s a major escalation. It’s the academic version of yanking the mic mid-lecture.

The Education Department isn’t saying Columbia is officially losing its accreditation — not yet. But they’re putting heavy pressure on the commission to investigate and, if necessary, take action.

What does that mean? Accreditation is basically the golden stamp that says, “Yes, this place is legit.” It affects student loans, federal funding, even how employers and other universities view a degree. Losing it would be an academic earthquake.

While the Trump camp is playing hardball, Columbia isn’t alone in facing this kind of heat. The Department has opened investigations into several elite universities over antisemitism claims since last fall.

What makes this showdown different is its intensity — and its timing.

We’re months out from the 2024 election, and Trump is putting universities in the spotlight, using culture-war fuel to energize his base. His administration has leaned into calls for tougher accountability on campuses that, in his words, “allow hate to fester.”

Columbia’s leadership has pushed back on the idea that they’ve been negligent, saying they’ve implemented new policies, offered support to affected students, and are working closely with federal agencies.

But that might not be enough. The accreditor now has to decide: Stick with Columbia or bring the hammer down? In the meantime, the message from Trump’s team is crystal clear: Fix it, or we’ll fix it for you.