NEW YORK, Jul 24 (Alliance News): Columbia University announced Wednesday it will pay over $200 million to settle federal investigations launched by President Donald Trump’s administration, securing the reinstatement of most of its suspended federal funding and access to billions in future grants.
The landmark settlement follows the administration’s March 2025 decision to cut off $400 million in federal funds, citing Columbia’s alleged inadequate response to antisemitism amid widespread pro-Palestinian protests on campus during 2024. The Trump administration welcomed the agreement, with the former president lauding it on social media.
Under the agreement, Columbia will pay $200 million to the federal government and an additional $21 million to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to settle separate investigations related to employment practices.
“This deal restores the vast majority of our federal grant access and affirms Columbia’s autonomy in academic matters, including faculty hiring and admissions,” the university said in a statement. However, Columbia also accepted several conditions, including administrative oversight and structural reforms.
The settlement requires Columbia to:
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Discipline students involved in “severe disruptions” of university operations.
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Reorganize its Faculty Senate.
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Introduce greater viewpoint diversity in Middle Eastern studies.
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End diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
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Eliminate race-based preferences in hiring and admissions.
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Undertake a full review of international admissions.
Furthermore, the university must designate two new administrative roles: one to oversee compliance with the agreement and another to investigate and report on antisemitism on campus.
The deal has drawn fierce criticism from pro-Palestinian student groups. Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which was recently derecognized by the university, accused the administration of “selling out” its students. “Imagine selling your students out just so you can pay Trump $221 million and keep funding genocide,” CUAD said in a social media statement.
Columbia faced intense national scrutiny after last year’s Gaza-related protests, during which students demanded divestment from arms manufacturers and companies linked to Israel’s military operations. The administration’s response to these protests, including a May incident where students occupied the university’s main library, led to disciplinary action against dozens of demonstrators.
The Trump administration’s campaign against elite universities has included similar pressure on institutions such as Harvard. Officials have attempted to deport foreign pro-Palestinian students, including at Columbia, but have encountered judicial resistance. Rights groups argue these moves threaten academic freedom, due process, and freedom of speech.
The Education Department, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, defended the deal, saying it ensures ideological balance, protects Jewish students, and enforces campus discipline.
As part of the agreement, Columbia will adopt new definitions of antisemitism aligned with federal standards, including interpretations that equate certain anti-Zionist positions with antisemitism— a shift that has sparked intense debate among academics.
The agreement represents a pivotal moment in the evolving national conversation around free speech, academic freedom, and university governance amid rising political and social tensions on American campuses.
