Catherwood LibraryILR School

Columbia University is at the center of a legal battle after the Trump administration cut $400 million in funding, a move that unions argue violates the First Amendment and threatens critical public health research. The cuts follow student protests over Israel's actions in Gaza, which led the administration to pressure Columbia into adopting stricter policies on antisemitism and campus demonstrations. In response, the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit, warning that the government is using financial penalties to limit academic freedom. While the university has complied with some demands, the broader dispute over federal funding and free speech is expected to continue in court.