President Trump Announces Suspension of Federal Funding for Schools Allowing Protests

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that any college, school, or university in the United States allowing protests will have its federal funding cut. In a statement, President Trump emphasized that educational institutions permitting illegal demonstrations will face financial penalties. He further warned that protestors could face imprisonment or deportation, while U.S. citizens involved in such protests could be permanently removed or arrested from their institutions.

President Trump has been vocal in criticizing protests in U.S. schools, colleges, and universities against Israeli attacks on Gaza. In January, Trump signed an executive order that called for the expulsion of students participating in protests. These demonstrations, in support of Palestinians, have been constitutionally protected in the U.S. through the First Amendment.

Human rights organizations in the U.S. have expressed concern, arguing that colleges should respond appropriately to illegal activities but asserting that President Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally withdraw federal funds. They also noted that such protests, even if deemed illegal, should be handled within the framework of law and due process.

However, the Trump administration’s Education Secretary claims that Jewish students in U.S. universities have faced harassment for over a year. The administration has labeled camps supporting Palestinians as illegal.

President Trump did not clarify what specifically he meant by “illegal protests,” but his administration has set up a task force to visit ten universities that have been sites of Palestinian-supportive demonstrations.