Last week’s announcement was a worst-case scenario for Columbia University.

The Trump administration announced it was immediately cancelling about $400 million in federal grants and contracts due to the university’s record on antisemitism, including its handling of pro-Palestinian protests last spring.

What happens next — and whether the plan will come under legal threat — is unclear.

For now, Columbia is choosing not to fight back. In a letter to the Columbia community on Friday, Interim President Katrina Armstrong wrote, "We are committed to working with the federal government to address their legitimate concerns."

On Friday, she met with Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who called the meeting “productive" in a social media post.

Others are pushing back.

“They haven’t made any specific recommendations to Columbia as to what they should do to fight antisemitism that they’re not doing,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan said. “It seems to be part of an attempt to control higher education in the United States.”

Nadler has argued the move is part of the Trump administration’s war on education and science. The $400 million, he said, includes grants supporting life-saving cures.

“How does cutting out $400 million — and threatening more — from cancer research or other medical research help the fight against antisemitism?” he said. “I don’t understand that. That doesn’t make any sense at all.”

Not all Democrats are in lockstep on the issue. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman posted on social media: “Columbia let antisemitism run amok to cater to lunatic fringe and paid provocateurs… Now, Columbia pays for its failure and I support that.”

The move could well face legal challenges. Some legal analysts say, among other things, the applicable law requires a hearing where the university could have the opportunity to defend itself. Congress would also have to be notified of any cuts.

Last week’s directive, which came from four federal agencies, was short on specifics, but said the government would soon issue stop-work orders on grants and contracts, freezing university access. Additional cancellations are expected to follow, the notice said.

And Columbia could be just the first target.

The Department of Education on Monday said 60 colleges and universities are under investigation for antisemitic discrimination, including three upstate SUNY schools, and that it had sent letters to the schools warning of potential enforcement action.