The Trump administration escalated its battle with Columbia University on Wednesday, threatening to revoke the Ivy League institution’s accreditation over its failure to protect Jewish students from harassment during campus protests.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon formally notified Columbia’s accrediting body that the university “is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and therefore fails to meet the standards for accreditation set by the Commission.”

Federal investigators concluded that Columbia “acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students, thereby violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Authorities launched their probe in February, examining whether the university discriminated against or enabled harassment of Jewish students and faculty following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent campus protests over the Gaza war.

“After Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia University’s leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus,” McMahon said in a press release. “This is not only immoral, but also unlawful.”

If the Supreme Court does not intervene, the financial implications for Columbia would be catastrophic. Loss of accreditation would eliminate the university’s eligibility for federal student financial aid funding, cutting off access to grants and loans that millions of students depend on to afford attendance.

Federal regulations require accreditors to notify member institutions about noncompliance findings and establish a plan to come into compliance. Universities that fail to comply within a specified period face appropriate action from their accreditor. Columbia officials acknowledged they are “aware of the concerns raised” by the Education Department and have “addressed those concerns directly with Middle States,” their accrediting body.

“Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism on our campus,” a spokesperson said. “We take this issue seriously and are continuing to work with the federal government to address it.”

University leaders have already made significant concessions to appease the administration, including reorganizing its Middle Eastern studies department and implementing new campus protest policies. McMahon’s threat comes on top of $400 million in federal grants that the administration already canceled in March, forcing Columbia to cut 180 staff members and implement sweeping policy changes.

Other universities may face similar threats, such as Harvard University, which is already locked in legal battles with the administration over billions in funding cuts.