Donald Trump government's funding cut hurts, Columbia to lay off 180 researchers: 'We have had to make difficult choices and ...,' says in open letter

Columbia University has announced that it was laying off dozens of researchers whose work was funded by the US government grants and contracts that President Donald Trump's administration canceled in March, citing antisemitic harassment on and near campus. The terminations will affect about 20 percent of Columbia researchers funded by canceled grants.

"We have had to make difficult choices and unfortunately, today, nearly 180 of our colleagues who have been working, in whole or in part, on impacted federal grants, will receive notices of non-renewal or termination," Columbia's interim president and other officials said in an open letter, citing an "intense" strain on the university's finances.

Columbia will keep trying to persuade the government to restore the funding, according to the letter. It did not specify which departments would lose researchers and infrastructure.

“Moving forward, we will be running lighter footprints of research infrastructure in some areas and, in others, maintaining a level of research continuity as we pursue alternate funding sources,” the statement reads. “In some cases, schools and departments are winding down activity but remain prepared to reestablish capabilities if support is restored.”

The open letter also introduced a research stabilization fund to “navigate these future funding risks and lend support to our scientific community in multiple forms.” The fund will be application-based and will award internal short-term grants to scientists “as they seek alternate sources of funding or complete the components of their research to enable publication of results.”

What's behind the funding cut: Anti-Israel protests and ...
In March this year, the Trump administration canceled $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia and threatened to withhold billions more because of what it described as antisemitic harassment around the school's New York City campus. The funding cuts stem from Columbia’s role as a focal point for pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel student protests, which have disrupted U.S. campuses amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Columbia has complied with several Trump administration demands to restore funding, including reforming its disciplinary process, hiring security with arrest powers, and appointing an official to oversee Middle East-related coursework.

In a related development, the Trump administration warned Harvard University this week that it faces a similar funding freeze unless it meets government demands on addressing campus antisemitism. Harvard, which has sued to block the freeze, rejected these demands, citing threats to its autonomy.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent the university a letter warning that access to additional federal funding would not be possible until “they demonstrate responsible management.”