Researchers in limbo as Columbia bows to Trump’s demands in bid to restore $400M federal funding

NEW YORK (AP) — When President Donald Trump canceled $400 million in funding to Columbia University over its handling of student protests against Israel's war in Gaza, much of the financial pain fell on researchers a train ride away from the school's campus, working on things like curing cancer and studying COVID-19's impact on children.

The urgency of salvaging ongoing research projects at the university's labs and world-renowned medical center was one factor in Columbia's decision last week to bow to the Republican administration’s unprecedented demands for changes in university policy as a condition of getting funding restored.

The Ivy League university announced Friday that it would overhaul its student disciplinary process, ban protesters from wearing masks, bar demonstrations from academic buildings, adopt a new definition of antisemitism and put its Middle Eastern studies program under the supervision of a vice provost who would have a say over curriculum and hiring.

The university's decision to accede to nearly all of the Trump administration's demands outraged some faculty members, who say Columbia has sacrificed academic freedom. The American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers, representing members of Columbia’s faculty, filed a lawsuit Tuesday saying the funding revocation violated free speech laws.

Scientific and medical researchers are appalled that their work was drawn into the debate to begin with.

“There’s simply no justifiable link for the federal government to put this kind of research in the line of fire for the goal of mitigating antisemitism at a different location," Dr. Dani Dumitriu, a pediatric researcher studying babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic, said from her office in midtown Manhattan.

Dr. Andrew Lassman, a brain cancer specialist and associate director of clinical trials at Columbia's cancer center, said researchers will have to make difficult decisions if the cuts stand.

Those choices could include prioritizing which experimental cancer treatments they will focus on and how many patients they can treat, he said, stressing that the current cuts have not resulted in the stoppage of any clinical trials where patients are currently enrolled.

“This is real, not theoretical research,” said Lassman, who works at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, located about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) north of the university’s main campus. “Young, old, Black white, Republican, Democrat — cancer doesn’t care.”

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the university was “ on the right track ” after it announced the changes Friday, but hasn't indicated yet whether funding might be restored.

Columbia's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, on Tuesday characterized the school's policy changes as “ right for Columbia.”

“Implementation of these measures is fundamental to sustaining our academic mission without disruption and ensuring the safety of Columbia’s students and campuses,” she said in a statement, adding that she was committed to restoring the partnership between the university and the federal government.

On Columbia’s main campus, Benjamin Bostick, an environmental scientist whose research on rural water quality in Arizona, Oklahoma and the Dakotas was among those that lost funding, expressed dismay at the university’s decision to agree to the Trump administration's demands.

He said the school was put into a position where it couldn't do much to fight back. “But I really dislike that it effectively divides the institution and diverts attention from the fact that research activities are being suspended by external powers," Bostick said.

“From my perspective, what the government is telling me is that they don’t care about people who have these issues or how to address them," he said, referring to the water quality research.

At Columbia's Teachers College, the cuts hit a program that trains graduate students to become teachers for the deaf and hard of hearing. Elaine Smolen, the program's co-director, said the Department of Education grant provided students with tuition support, living expenses and professional development.

“There’s no arguing with the extreme shortage and need for the kind of work that we do,” she said. “The longer deaf or hard of hearing children wait for services, the worse their outcomes are.”

At Dumitriu's office, the funding cuts have forced her team to stop conducting and analyzing brain scans on participants in the study, which sought to track the long-term health of children whose mothers contracted COVID-19 while they were pregnant.

“We were learning so much, and we were hoping to continue to follow up with these babies all the way into their adulthood,” she said.

Casandra Almonte, a New Jersey mom participating in the study with her son, said pulling funding “makes no sense at all.”

She said the extra testing and periodic check-ins with Dumitriu’s team gave her peace of mind that her son Oliver, now age 2, was developing properly.

“It’s completely unfair to pull funding from science because people are practicing free speech,” Almonte said.

For now, Dumitriu says much of her team’s work can continue using other funding, as the National Institutes of Health grant suspended by the Trump administration represented roughly a quarter of its budget. She hopes to appeal the decision while her office seeks other grants.

“We are kind of living moment to moment,” Dumitriu said. “It’s a really rough time to want to do good.”

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.

Casandra Almonte speaks to reporters in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Dani Dumitriu talks to reporters at her office in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Dani Dumitriu talks to reporters at her office in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Casandra Almonte speaks to reporters in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Casandra Almonte speaks to reporters in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A session of play between Casandra Almonte and her son Oliver, recorded as part of a study, is displayed for reporters in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Casandra Almonte speaks to reporters in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Casandra Almonte speaks to reporters in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Dani Dumitriu talks to reporters at her office in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Dani Dumitriu talks to reporters at her office in New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings in a ceremony Friday night.

“There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings.

“What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn't have scripted it any better.”

A choir in the left field pavilion sang “We Are the Champions” to open the ceremony hosted by actor Anthony Anderson.

“Nobody was like us last year and I have a feeling that nobody will be like us this year,” said Anderson, a Dodgers fan.

Ohtani, World Series MVP Freddie Freeman and Roberts received some of the loudest cheers walking a blue carpet to a circular stage between home plate and the mound.

Ohtani waved to the fans. They chanted “Freddie! Freddie!” when it was Freeman's turn.

They were greeted with hugs from owner Mark Walter, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, president and CEO Stan Kasten and general manager Brandon Gomes, who presented the coaching staff and players with blue boxes.

An injured Kershaw didn't pitch in the postseason last year, which culminated in the Dodgers' five-game victory over the rival New York Yankees in the World Series. Ohtani's Japanese countryman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and catcher Austin Barnes were busy warming up in the bullpen and had a clubhouse manager accept their rings.

The Dodgers unveiled their World Series championship flag in center field and a championship emblem on the right field suite level before a 5-4 win over the Tigers in Thursday’s home opener.

“This is the final piece,” Roberts said. “Just to kind of have the fans here to kind of enjoy this with us and close the book on 2024.”

Roberts had not seen the ring ahead of time.

“It’s a symbol for me,” he said, adding that he doesn’t wear rings although he wears a wedding band.

Roberts said he keeps his World Series rings from 2004 (as a player with Boston) and 2020 (as manager with the Dodgers) in a home safe.

Mookie Betts picked up his third championship ring, to go with a 2018 title in Boston and now two in LA.

“This is my favorite one so far,” he said. “Hopefully I can get some more and then we’ll be able to compare.”

The hand-crafted rings by Jostens contain 14-karat yellow gold, diamonds and genuine sapphires.

Inside the box’s lid, a video plays highlights of the World Series. Using a specialized hinge mechanism, the top of the ring opens to reveal Dodger Stadium displayed in detail and features the Commissioner’s Trophy with one diamond to mark the victory. Eight diamonds represent each of the team's World Series titles and the years 1883 and 2024 mark the franchise's 142 seasons.

The left side of the ring top interior includes a piece from the bases used in the World Series. Encircling the base are 34 sapphires honoring the Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who died days before the World Series began.

In a personal touch, players' signatures are on the interior palm of the ring.

“The ring is incredible,” third baseman Max Muncy said.

Former Dodger Jack Flaherty started for the Tigers on Friday night, so he'll receive his ring Saturday.

“We can go beat him up today and give him the ring tomorrow,” Roberts joked.

Flaherty, a native of nearby Burbank, California, started Game 1 of the National League Championship Series and Game 1 of the World Series, both at Dodger Stadium where he attended games as a kid. He joined the Dodgers at last year's trade deadline and provided stability to a starting rotation rocked by injuries.

“He was the right person at the right time for our club," Roberts said. “He delivered.”

Utilityman Kiké Hernández got out of his sick bed to participate in the ceremony after missing the home opener a day earlier.

“He's feeling much better,” Roberts said.

The team gathered behind the mound waiting for everyone to cross the stage and then posed for photos, smiling and admiring the bling on their fingers. A brass band broke into “They Not Like Us.”

“I hope it fits,” Roberts said. “If it ends up on my pinkie, we'll be in trouble.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

A Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 World Series ring sits in its box after a ceremony at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Beth Harris)

A Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 World Series ring sits in its box after a ceremony at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Beth Harris)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, left, Shohei Ohtani, center, and Mookie Betts pose with their rings during a World Series Champion ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw and Will Smith show each other their rings during a World Series Champion ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy, left shows his ring to Shohei Ohtani during a World Series Champion ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, left, Shohei Ohtani, center, and Mookie Betts pose with their rings during a World Series Champion ring ceremony prior to a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)