President Donald Trump has announced that federal financial support will be withdrawn from educational institutions that permit "illegal" demonstrations, intensifying his stance against disruptions on college campuses. He also warned that those involved in such activities would face serious consequences.
"All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," Trump stated on Truth Social on Tuesday. He further asserted, "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!"
🚨🚨 BREAKING: President Trump announces plans to cut federal funding for colleges, schools, and universities permitting "illegal" protests. He also vows to deport foreign students and agitators involved in demonstrations back to their home countries. pic.twitter.com/X1SjqWxghl
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 4, 2025
This is not the first time the Republican leader has threatened to withhold government funding from schools and universities. In the past, he has targeted institutions over their approach to gender and racial studies, policies regarding transgender athletes in girls' sports, and enforcement of Covid-19 vaccine mandates. Trump has also proposed eliminating the Department of Education entirely, advocating for state-level control over curricula.
His latest remarks follow a wave of protests on university campuses last year, particularly in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza. These demonstrations sparked debates over the rise of anti-Semitism in academic spaces.
On Monday, the U.S. government revealed that it is evaluating the possibility of revoking over $50 million in federal contracts with Columbia University. The decision comes amid allegations that the institution failed to protect Jewish students during campus unrest.
Columbia, an esteemed Ivy League institution, became a focal point of controversy after congressional hearings were held to determine whether universities were doing enough to safeguard Jewish students.
Last month, Trump established a task force dedicated to addressing anti-Semitism in schools, which is currently reviewing federal funding allocated to Columbia, according to Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
"Americans have watched in horror for more than a year now, as Jewish students have been assaulted and harassed on elite university campuses," McMahon stated.
She emphasized that schools benefiting from federal funds are obligated to ensure the safety of all students, adding that Columbia’s "apparent failure to uphold their end of this basic agreement raises very serious questions about the institution's fitness to continue doing business with the United States government."
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