Interim University President Katrina Armstrong responded to a Monday memorandum from President Donald Trump’s administration, which ordered federal agencies to “temporarily pause” federal aid, in an email sent to the University community on Tuesday.

Armstrong reiterated the “unwavering commitment to the core mission and principles” of the University. She described how over the last several months, the University has been preparing for “a variety of scenarios, including this one.”

The memorandum, sent by the Office of Management and Budget, directed “Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements.”

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued an administrative stay minutes before the freeze was slated to take effect at 5 p.m. on Tuesday after the National Council of Nonprofits sued against the planned move. The White House rescinded the freeze Wednesday.

“In collaboration with key external partners, we have been laying the groundwork to ensure our resilience in the face of uncertainty,” Armstrong wrote. “We are confident in our collective ability to navigate these challenges with the prudence and foresight that have always characterized this institution.”

At the Nov. 22, 2024, University Senate plenary, Armstrong said that she was committed to “continuing to learn how we can better support our faculty,” adding that “the faculty need resources to do their work, they need to be able to continue to engage with students.”

James Applegate, a professor of astronomy, expressed at the plenary concerns about being able to speak openly about controversial topics.

“People are worried about being thrown to the wolves in Washington, D.C.,” Applegate said.

According to the memo, the temporary funding freeze is intended to halt the disbursement of all federal aid that “may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”

An official from the Department of Education clarified that the freeze would not affect student loans or Pell Grants. Jennifer Fondiller, Barnard’s vice president for enrollment and external affairs, echoed this clarification in an email to Barnard students on Tuesday—writing that the pause would not affect “student federal loans, Pell Grants or other forms of direct financial assistance to individual students.”

In fiscal year 2024, Columbia received $1.3 billion in grants from the federal government, accounting for 20 percent of the University’s operating budget.

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at reshaping government structure and reanalyzing the scope of federal funding. Elon Musk, who has been appointed to head the Department of Government Efficiency, is tasked with cutting around a trillion dollars in government spending.

The Columbia Research website created a new page in response to Trump’s new executive orders titled, “Federal Research Updates 2025,” focused on information “related to Federal Executive Orders and other federal actions impacting federally-funded research.”

The webpage lists three executive orders “that may have implications for Columbia sponsored research activity”:“Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-based Opportunity.” The page noted that the University is “reviewing and interpreting the executive orders to try to anticipate their potential implementation and impact.”

Armstrong wrote that Columbia’s commitment to the success of its students, patients, faculty, and research “remains solute.” She described research as “fundamental” to not only “the future of our University but also to the advancement of knowledge and society as a whole.”

In a Thursday announcement, Jeannette M. Wing, executive vice president for research, wrote that her office is “closely monitoring guidance and updates from federal agencies.” Wing pledged to keep researchers informed “of any changes that may affect” their work and emphasized that researchers “remain focused” on the work.

In another announcement posted on Sunday, Bill Berger, assistant vice president for Columbia’s Sponsored Projects Administration, wrote to head researchers acknowledging the implementations of “stop-work orders” by some federal agencies “in response to executive orders issued by the new administration” and urged compliance with these orders.

“We understand that this moment may prompt concern, but it is in times such as these that our strength shines brightest,” Armstrong wrote. “Columbia has weathered difficult moments throughout our history, drawing on the resolve and resilience of this community to emerge stronger each time.”

Columbia has remained under federal scrutiny since pro-Palestinian protests that began in October 2023 grabbed national attention. The national spotlight heightened with the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” and the Hamilton Hall occupation in April 2024.

House Republicans threatened to cut off federal funding for Columbia prior to Trump’s inauguration. Former chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) told Spectator last April that while it was not anticipated that federal funding would be cut off, it would be the “ultimate” step if Columbia did not curb antisemitism on campus.

Similarly, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)—who gained notoriety for pressing Ivy League presidents, including former University President Minouche Shafik—echoed those calls in April, when she called on federal funding to be withheld from Columbia in a letter to then-Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

“This will be a dynamic period, and we will keep you informed as new developments unfold,” Armstrong wrote. “We will be as transparent as we can in our communications and in our decision-making processes, as we continue to uphold the values that make our University a beacon of excellence.”