Columbia University’s accreditation has come under threat following a controversial move by the Trump administration, which alleges the Ivy League institution failed to adequately protect Jewish students from harassment on campus. The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday that it had informed Columbia’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, that the university “no longer appears to meet” federal compliance standards.
The action stems from an investigation by the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Health and Human Services, which concluded that Columbia violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by acting with “deliberate indifference” to antisemitic harassment. The inquiry, which began in February, focused on incidents following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Federal officials argue that the university “failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment,” thereby denying them equal access to educational opportunities. Education Secretary Linda McMahon labeled Columbia’s conduct “immoral” and “unlawful,” stating that the university has been in violation since the start of the war.
The announcement marks another escalation in the Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward elite academic institutions, particularly those perceived as insufficiently aligned with its political and cultural agenda. In March, the administration froze millions in federal research funding to Columbia, citing similar concerns. The school complied with federal demands to reinstate the funding, but not before laying off 180 staffers whose salaries depended on the grants.
Columbia, in a statement, said it is “aware of the concerns raised” by the Education Department and has been in communication with its accreditor. “Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism on our campus,” the university said. “We take this issue seriously and are continuing to work with the federal government to address it.”
While compliance with civil rights law is a legitimate accreditation requirement, threats to revoke accreditation over unresolved investigations are highly unusual and widely seen as a politicized tactic. Colleges across the country are regularly found out of compliance by both Democratic and Republican administrations, but typically work with the government to resolve the issues without facing accreditation risks.
The Middle States Commission confirmed receipt of the Education Department’s letter but declined to comment on the matter. If Columbia is unable to demonstrate compliance, it could eventually lose accreditation and access to federal student aid—though such an outcome is likely months, if not years, away.
For now, Columbia is expected to enter discussions with its accreditor and federal agencies to outline corrective steps. The university is already in parallel negotiations to resolve the federal antisemitism complaints.
