US accuses Columbia University of violating civil rights over antisemitism response

The United States government has escalated its scrutiny of Columbia University, accusing the institution of failing to meet federal accreditation standards due to inadequate protection of Jewish students.

In a statement issued on June 4, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said, "After Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia University's leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus."

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) notified the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the university’s accrediting body, of its findings.

"The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today notified the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (the Commission) that its member institution, Columbia University, is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and therefore fails to meet the standards for accreditation set by the Commission," the department said in a release.

The notification follows a broader push by the Trump administration to hold higher education institutions accountable for violations of the Civil Rights Act, particularly in cases involving antisemitism.

The Education Department has indicated that Columbia no longer appears to fulfill accreditation requirements, which are crucial for students to access federal funding such as grants and loans.

McMahon further added, "We look forward to the Commission keeping the Department fully informed of actions taken to ensure Columbia's compliance with accreditation standards, including compliance with federal civil rights laws."

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education said that it had received the Education Department’s letter.

This move is part of a wider effort under the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, established following an executive order issued by President Trump in February.

An additional executive order in April directed the education secretary to ensure accrediting bodies are held accountable for member institutions' poor performance or civil rights violations.

Last month, Columbia was formally accused of violating federal civil rights law by showing "deliberate indifference" to antisemitic harassment since the Oct 7 Hamas attack and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

In response, a Columbia University representative described the findings as a continuation of its efforts to work with the federal government to address antisemitism on campus.

The pressure on elite institutions like Columbia has been mounting, with the federal government warning of the potential loss of funding.

In March, the university enacted significant policy reforms after the administration threatened to revoke $400 million in federal grants and contracts unless stronger measures were taken to combat antisemitism on campus.