Trump Forces $220M from Columbia Univ. Over Antisemitism Claims/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Columbia University has agreed to pay over $220 million to the Trump administration to restore suspended federal research funding. The settlement addresses alleged antisemitism on campus and includes major policy reforms on DEI and academic oversight. The deal follows months of escalating pressure amid broader federal efforts to reshape higher education under Trump’s second term.
Columbia’s Trump-Era Settlement: Quick Looks
- $220M settlement reached to restore frozen federal grants
- $200M paid over three years, plus $21M for civil rights claims
- Funding suspension tied to antisemitism concerns post-October 2023 Hamas attack
- Columbia agrees to reforms on curriculum, DEI, and student discipline
- No admission of wrongdoing, but sweeping policy changes included
- Federal scrutiny included threats to revoke over $400M in grants
- Trump praises reforms, says more universities will face pressure
- International students now subject to civil discourse vetting
- 70+ pro-Palestinian protesters face suspensions, expulsions, or revoked degrees
- Columbia joins broader crackdown, with other schools under federal pressure
Deep Look: Columbia Pays $220 Million to Settle With Trump Administration Amid Antisemitism Probe
NEW YORK — Columbia University has agreed to a $220 million settlement with the Trump administration, ending a standoff over federal funding cut earlier this year amid accusations the university failed to curb antisemitic activity on campus.
The Ivy League institution will pay $200 million over the next three years, along with an additional $21 million earmarked to resolve civil rights complaints from Jewish faculty and staff stemming from events following the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023.
The Trump administration had accused Columbia of permitting a hostile campus climate for Jewish students, citing pro-Palestinian protests and administrative inaction. At one point, the school faced the loss of over $400 million in federal grants and research contracts.
A Sweeping Deal With Historic Implications
“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,” said Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman.
Under the deal, Columbia does not admit wrongdoing but agrees to overhaul key aspects of its operations, including its disciplinary process, faculty oversight, and application of a controversial federal definition of antisemitism to student conduct reviews.
According to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the settlement represents a “seismic shift” in federal accountability for universities accepting taxpayer money. She described Columbia’s changes as “a roadmap” for elite institutions.
Policy Reforms and Oversight Conditions
Columbia’s reforms include:
- A review of its Middle East studies curriculum to ensure balance
- The appointment of new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies
- An end to race-based quotas or diversity targets in admissions or hiring
- A requirement to file DEI compliance reports with a federal monitor
- A new policy for vetting international student motivations before enrollment
- Cooperation with immigration enforcement regarding visa-holder discipline
These reforms address long-standing conservative critiques of higher education’s embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
President Trump applauded the outcome in a Truth Social post, saying Columbia had committed to “ending their ridiculous DEI policies” and “admitting students based ONLY on MERIT.”
He also warned that other universities would face similar scrutiny, calling out what he described as “unfair and unjust” misuse of federal funds.
Fallout From Pro-Palestinian Protests
Columbia became a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s broader campaign to reshape campus politics following pro-Palestinian demonstrations that drew national attention.
While Columbia’s own antisemitism task force confirmed incidents of verbal harassment and classroom hostility against Jewish students, protest leaders insisted their actions were political, not religious, in nature.
Still, the school’s handling of the unrest triggered a cascade of federal actions:
- Federal law enforcement searched university housing for undocumented individuals
- Over 70 students face disciplinary actions, including expulsion and degree revocation
- Former graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was detained, the first noncitizen protester targeted under the Trump administration’s new deportation push
Columbia’s leadership, which has rotated through three interim presidents over the past year, conceded that the campus climate had deteriorated and signaled a need for cultural and administrative reset.
A Precedent for Other Universities
The settlement with Columbia follows similar federal pressure campaigns targeting Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, George Mason University, and the University of Virginia, all of which have been subject to federal investigations over DEI practices or campus speech issues.
At UPenn, the Trump administration temporarily froze $175 million in funding before reinstating it in exchange for policy changes related to women’s sports and transgender athlete records.
Meanwhile, the administration is now focusing on public institutions. The University of Virginia’s president resigned in June, and George Mason University is currently under review for its diversity initiatives.
More than $2 billion in research funds have been frozen nationwide since Trump’s return to office, a sign that the administration’s campaign to reshape higher education is far from over.
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