Teacher unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to cut $400 million in funding for Columbia University, accusing the White House of violating free speech protections and targeting academic freedom.
The lawsuit, filed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), argues the cuts are retaliatory, stemming from pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University earlier this year.
President Donald Trump and senior officials have criticised the university for allowing student-led demonstrations against Israel’s military response in Gaza. The protests, which included campus occupations, sparked similar movements across the country.
In response, the administration demanded the university adopt stricter policies, including tougher penalties for protesters, a review of admissions, and a ban on masks at demonstrations. Columbia officials have since agreed to most of these demands, laid out in a March 13 letter.
Jameel Jaffer, director of Columbia’s Knight First Amendment Institute, said the letter signalled a threat to the university’s autonomy. Posting on social platform Bluesky, he wrote: “We’ll destroy Columbia unless you destroy it first.”
The lawsuit alleges that the funding cuts represent an unconstitutional attempt to pressure a private institution to limit free speech and allow federal influence over curriculum and campus governance. The unions argue the move also violates Congress’s authority over federal spending.
Meanwhile, Trump officials have also taken action against student protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, detaining him and revoking his green card. Khalil, 30, is being held in Louisiana and faces deportation. The administration claims he has ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Khalil denies the allegations and says he is being punished for political dissent.
The AFT has also sued the Trump administration separately over efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, continuing a long-running conflict between Trump and AFT President Randi Weingarten that dates back to his first term.
Federal judges have blocked some of the administration’s budget-cutting attempts, but many institutions, including Columbia, face mounting financial uncertainty.
