In a landmark development, Columbia University has agreed to pay $200 million over three years as part of a settlement with the Trump administration, which had accused the university of failing to safeguard its Jewish students. In return, the federal government will reinstate a significant portion of the roughly $400 million in federal grants that were previously frozen or terminated.
Columbia became the first institution to face action after a wave of antisemitism complaints during protests over the Israel–Gaza conflict on campus. Last March, the university acceded to several demands from the White House—including overhauling its Middle Eastern studies department and strengthening enforcement policies—and avoided further financial penalties at the time.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon lauded the resolution, calling it “a seismic shift in our nation’s fight” to hold academic institutions accountable. Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, affirmed the agreement as “an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty.”
Under the settlement terms:
- Columbia will pay $200 million to the federal government over three years.
- Most previously frozen or canceled grants will be reinstated.
- A jointly appointed independent monitor will oversee the implementation of required reforms.
These changes echo measures already adopted by the university, such as disciplining students involved in the Gaza protest encampment, enforcing stricter protest guidelines (ID checks, no face coverings), increasing oversight of student groups, and boosting campus security. Columbia emphasized that the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing and that it protects the university’s core values and research independence.
President Trump echoed the agreement on Truth Social, stating that Columbia “committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students.” He also suggested more universities could face similar pressure if they don’t follow suit.
Currently, Harvard is taking a different tack—filing a lawsuit to challenge federal funding cuts and restrictions. Their hearings reportedly started this past Monday. McMahon suggested Columbia’s compliance could serve as a “roadmap for elite universities” seeking to restore public confidence.
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