Columbia University Lays Off 180 Staff After $400M Federal Grant Revocation Over Antisemitism Concerns

Columbia University has announced the layoff of roughly 180 staff members after the Trump administration revoked $400 million in federal grants, citing the university's 'failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment.'

Acting president Claire Shipman addressed the cuts, explaining that the affected staff had been working partially or entirely on projects funded by now-terminated federal grants. That’s about a fifth of those supported by the lost funding, so this isn’t just a paper cut—it’s a full-on budget amputation.

Shipman didn’t sugarcoat the situation, calling it a "deeply challenging time across all higher education." She added that the university must keep making tough decisions to "preserve financial flexibility" and keep moving forward, even if the path is foggy and, let’s be honest, a little bumpy.

The massive grant cancellation came in March, after several federal agencies criticized Columbia for not doing enough to address harassment targeting Jewish students on campus. The university quickly warned that the loss of these funds would have a ripple effect, impacting research, student programs, faculty, patient care, and now, the livelihoods of almost 200 employees.

In April, Columbia tried to mend fences, agreeing to a series of changes to get back in the government’s good graces—think banning masks used for anonymity, giving more power to campus police, and appointing a senior vice provost to oversee key academic departments. It’s honestly starting to feel like campus policy bingo at this point.

Despite these concessions, Columbia’s leadership is still negotiating with the federal government in hopes of restoring funding for some research projects. Shipman emphasized that ongoing budget pressures and uncertainty around future federal support are forcing tough calls about where to spend—and where to cut—university resources. She acknowledged the human toll of these decisions, especially for those losing their jobs.