Columbia has a new definition of antisemitism backed by Trump admin

Columbia University has said it will adopt a controversial definition of antisemitism as the embattled Ivy continues to negotiate with Trump administration officials over $1 billion in research funding.

Acting Columbia President Claire Shipman announced the university will rely on a definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance , or IHRA. That definition has been criticized by Human Rights Watch, the ACLU, Amnesty International and an array of other groups as conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

“The University remains dedicated to ensuring that complaints of discrimination and harassment of all types, including complaints based on Jewish and Israeli identity, are treated in the same manner,” Shipman wrote in a letter released Tuesday. “Formally adding the consideration of the IHRA definition into our existing antidiscrimination policies strengthens our approach to combating antisemitism.”

But as the university seeks to prove its commitment to addressing antisemitism and unite a fractured campus, even the adoption of the new definition has proven divisive.

According to the IHRA, antisemitism is defined by “hatred of Jews,” which can include speech “targeting the state of Israel.”

Hundreds of faculty have called on Columbia’s administration to adopt that definition. The Trump administration referenced the IHRA definition among in its demands to Columbia when it froze $400 million in research funding in March.

A Columbia University official said Wednesday the amount of withheld funding has grown to a total of $1 billion.

Some pro-Palestinian and free-speech activists have opposed the IHRA definition, calling it overly broad and stifling of free speech.

Joseph Howley, an associate professor of classics at Columbia, said he had “grave” concerns about Columbia’s decision to use the definition “at the behest of Donald Trump and [White House adviser] Stephen Miller.”

Shipman rejected that argument in her letter.

“The fact that we’ve faced pressure from the government does not make the problems on our campus any less real; a significant part of our community has been deeply affected in negative ways. In my view, any government agreement we reach is only a starting point for change,” Shipman wrote.

Columbia was the first target of the Trump administration’s efforts to exert influence over elite colleges. In March, the administration’s “joint task force on antisemitism” informed Columbia it would be withholding research funds “due to the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”

The Trump administration letter cited “illegal protests” — referring to the pro-Palestinian protests on campus, including the 2024 encampment that inspired similar demonstrations at colleges across the country. The Columbia encampment was ultimately broken up by police, caused the university to shift to remote learning at the tail end of the semester, and prompted administrators to cancel graduation that spring.

Hundreds of Jewish students told a university task force on antisemitism last year that they faced discrimination and hate, including being stalked, spit on, harassed or excluded.

Muslim and pro-Palestinian students have also reported feeling alienated, and discriminated against.

Shipman said the university will also be hiring more administrators to respond to discrimination complaints, and partner with organizations that fight antisemitism.

The university is reportedly nearing a deal with the Trump administration on the canceled funds.

This story has been updated to reflect a Columbia official's new tally of the total amount of withheld federal funding.