After $400 million in grants were canceled, Columbia taps endowment reserves to support its research programs

Columbia University has drawn on its unrestricted endowment funds to keep its research programs running after months of disruption in federal support, according to a report by The Columbia Spectator . In a statement issued on October 23, Anne Sullivan, Columbia’s executive vice president for finance, confirmed that the university had begun using unrestricted portions of its endowment during fiscal year 2025 and would continue doing so into fiscal year 2026. While the university did not specify the amount withdrawn, the decision marks a rare financial step for the Ivy League institution. The unusual measure followed a series of funding shocks earlier this year. As reported by The Columbia Spectator , the federal government canceled about $400 million in research grants and cont