Trump Administration Warns UW-Madison It Could Lose Federal Funding
One of 60 universities, colleges listed for alleged failure to protect Jewish students.
Tents are on Library Mall as part of a pro-Palestinian encampment at UW-Madison on Thursday, May 2. Anya van Wagtendonk/WPR
The University of Wisconsin-Madison was one of 60 higher education institutions warned about a potential loss of federal funding if they fail to protect Jewish students.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent a letter to the schools Monday saying it was “deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year.”
Newly named Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said colleges and universities benefit from “enormous” public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers and must do better.
“That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws,” McMahon wrote.
The largest portion of UW-Madison’s budget, approximately $890 million, or 30 percent, is from the federal government.
UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas said the university “condemns antisemitism in all its forms and strives to promote a welcoming campus environment for all members of the campus community, free from discrimination.”
“The university is continuing efforts to build a welcoming and inclusive community in the broadest sense, all of which aid the university’s continuing efforts to prevent and address antisemitism,” Lucas said in a statement.
Higher education has become a target of the Trump administration. The president threatened to punish any school that permits “illegal” protests in a social media post.
On Jan. 10, he signed an executive order to “combat antisemitism,” and revoke student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses. One month later, he announced the creation of a multi-agency task force to carry out that mandate.
The Trump administration announced Friday that it canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, for the school’s failure to protect Jewish students from harassment during protests last year over the war in Gaza.
And now 60 more schools are at risk of losing funding.
From late April to early May 2024, college students nationwide protested the war in Gaza, pitching tents and occupying space on dozens of campuses. Students faced a range of disciplinary action tied to pro-Palestinian activism, including more than 30 arrests at UW-Madison.
But even before the protests, UW-Madison was on the administration’s radar.
In February 2024, the Department of Education began investigating UW-Madison over its alleged failure to protect Jewish students from harassment on campus.
A Title XI complaint, filed by the Virginia-based conservative news outlet Campus Reform, alleges the university did not protect Jewish students during an Oct. 10, 2024, pro-Palestinian rally on campus.
Title XI was established as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination based on race.
At the time, Lucas said the campus would cooperate fully with the investigation.
“UW–Madison has a strong and deep commitment to supporting its Jewish Badgers, free expression and helping all students feel a sense of belonging,” Lucas said Tuesday. “The university took a number of additional steps entering the 2024-25 academic year.”
Trump administration warns UW-Madison it could lose federal funding was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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