Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, sent a letter on Mar. 26 to Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman seeking answers about the university's adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws, particularly Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The inquiry comes amid concerns that Columbia University may not be adequately protecting Jewish students, faculty, and patients from antisemitic harassment and discrimination. The university receives Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements as well as more than $690 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants for fiscal year 2024. Under a July 2025 agreement with the U.S. government, Columbia is required to comply with these federal protections.
The letter cites several issues that have raised concerns about how Columbia addresses antisemitism. These include withholding information from a court-appointed federal Resolution Monitor, deposition testimony by a former acting president who is now CEO of Columbia Medical, receiving a failing grade in a national campus antisemitism report published in December 2025, and reports that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reversed the city's adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
Guthrie said: “The Committee is troubled by recent reports and allegations raising questions about Columbia University’s willingness to uphold its commitments to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff. The fact that Columbia receives hundreds of millions of dollars from HHS and its subagencies, coupled with the serious concerns regarding its compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws, demonstrates that further oversight is needed. This Committee will continue to hold such institutions accountable that repeatedly foster environments of discrimination and harassment.”
Recent investigations by congressional committees have examined whether institutions receiving taxpayer funds through agencies like HHS or NIH are complying with civil rights laws and providing safe environments for all individuals—especially those of Jewish ancestry—according to the official website. Additional inquiries since September 2024 have focused specifically on incidents at NIH-funded institutions including Columbia University.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has played an influential role in shaping policy related to energy innovation, health care access—including Medicare—and consumer protection issues according to its official website. Established in 1795 as one of Congress’s oldest standing committees according to historical records, it continues today as an important body overseeing matters such as telecommunications regulation and pharmaceutical pricing reforms as described on its website.
Columbia has been asked by Guthrie's committee for detailed reporting since January 2023 on complaints involving discrimination or harassment—including those tied directly or indirectly to NIH grant recipients—as well as information about oversight roles within university leadership.
