Columbia University’s interim president has said that the school is working to address the “legitimate concerns” of US President Donald Trump’s administration after $400 million of federal government grants and contracts to the university were cancelled over allegations of antisemitism on campus.

The university has repeatedly been at the forefront of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel student protest movements since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent conflict in Gaza.

“I want to assure the entire Columbia community that we are committed to working with the federal government to address their legitimate concerns,” Katrina Armstrong, the university’s interim president, said in a late-night message to alumni.

“To that end, Columbia can, and will, continue to take serious action toward combatting antisemitism on our campus.”