Columbia University Cuts 180 Jobs After Trump Axes $400M Over Antisemitism Issues

The President Donald Trump withdrew $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University which led to the layoff of 180 staff members because the university failed to address antisemitism during student protests about the Gaza conflict. The university announced that 20% of employees who received funding through the canceled grants will face layoffs. The university declared that they had to make difficult decisions regarding their resources which resulted in negative impacts on their most valuable asset which is their personnel. The university spokesperson Jessica Murphy confirmed that salaries remain unchanged but the institution provides retirement benefits without mentioning additional workforce reductions. The research programs including antiviral nasal spray development and studies on maternal mortality and long COVID and cancer screenings will either be reduced in scope or completely halted. The research community expressed deep disappointment about the layoffs according to professor Marcel Agueros who highlighted the permanent damage these cuts will cause to research activities. The Trump administration faces a lawsuit from his group because they believe the funding cuts violate legal standards. The Trump administration withdrew $400 million in funding during March because of alleged antisemitic behavior during protests that started in October 2023 when the Israel-Hamas war began. The university continues its efforts to retrieve the funding but the current situation creates substantial challenges for staff members and research activities.