Trump cancels federal grants to Columbia University over antisemitism allegations

President Donald Trump's administration has cancelled grants and contracts totaling $400m to Columbia University due to "inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students", the US Education Department said on Friday.

Columbia was at the centre of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to US support for Israel due to the civilian deaths and humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. 

There were allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counterprotests. Columbia has previously said it made efforts to tackle antisemitism.

Reporting by Reuters