Columbia University has agreed to a staggering settlement exceeding $220 million with the federal government to reinstate canceled research funding, committing to sweeping reforms of its disciplinary system, curriculum, and DEI initiatives following intense scrutiny over its handling of antisemitism allegations
Columbia University has reached a monumental settlement with the federal government, agreeing to pay over US $220 million to reinstate previously canceled federal research funding, the university announced Wednesday, as reported by the Associated Press. The agreement mandates Columbia to pay $200 million over three years and an additional $21 million to resolve investigations by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Notably, the settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing by the university.
Acting University President Claire Shipman stated, “This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty.” The earlier decision by the Trump administration to withdraw funds was directly attributed to Columbia’s handling of antisemitism allegations that emerged during the Israel-Hamas war, commencing in October 2023.
In response to stringent federal demands, Columbia has committed to a comprehensive array of measures designed to address the issues. These include:
- Restructuring its student disciplinary system.
- Adopting a formal definition of antisemitism.
- Reviewing its Middle East curriculum for balance and comprehensiveness.
- Appointing faculty to the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
- Ending programs aiming for race-based outcomes or diversity targets.
- Reporting to an external monitor to ensure its initiatives do not promote unlawful DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) objectives.
Shipman emphasized the delicate balance achieved, stating, “The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track.” She reiterated that preserving institutional independence remains “vital to academic excellence and scholarly exploration.”
Commenting on the landmark agreement, Donald Trump celebrated the outcome on his Truth Social platform: “I am pleased to announce that the Trump Administration has reached a historic agreement with Columbia University. Columbia has agreed to pay a penalty of $200 Million Dollars to the United States Government for violating Federal Law, in addition to over $20 Million to their Jewish employees who were unlawfully targeted and harassed. Columbia has also committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus.”
He further added, “Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming. It’s a great honor to have been involved, and I want to thank and congratulate Secretary Linda McMahon, and all those who worked with us on this important deal. I also want to thank and commend Columbia University for agreeing to do what is right. I look forward to watching them have a great future in our Country, maybe greater than ever before!”
Prior to Wednesday’s settlement, the Trump administration had already revoked hundreds of millions in federal research grants from Columbia due to its perceived inadequate handling of anti-Israel campus protests. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that discussions were underway between Columbia’s board of trustees and the Trump administration regarding the potential reinstatement of federal funding. Columbia had previously agreed to some of the Trump administration’s demands, such as restricting masks and empowering campus police, but these earlier concessions had not led to the restoration of federal funding.
Columbia’s own task force had previously uncovered that Jewish students experienced verbal abuse and classroom exclusion during protests in spring 2024, even as protest leaders maintained their actions were solely directed against Israeli government policy, not Jewish students. This settlement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing national debate over antisemitism on university campuses.olumbia University has reached a monumental settlement with the federal government, agreeing to pay over US $220 million to reinstate previously canceled federal research funding, the university announced Wednesday, as reported by the Associated Press. The agreement mandates Columbia to pay $200 million over three years and an additional $21 million to resolve investigations by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Notably, the settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing by the university.
Acting University President Claire Shipman stated, “This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty.” The earlier decision by the Trump administration to withdraw funds was directly attributed to Columbia’s handling of antisemitism allegations that emerged during the Israel-Hamas war, commencing in October 2023.
In response to stringent federal demands, Columbia has committed to a comprehensive array of measures designed to address the issues. These include:
- Restructuring its student disciplinary system.
- Adopting a formal definition of antisemitism.
- Reviewing its Middle East curriculum for balance and comprehensiveness.
- Appointing faculty to the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
- Ending programs aiming for race-based outcomes or diversity targets.
- Reporting to an external monitor to ensure its initiatives do not promote unlawful DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) objectives.
Shipman emphasized the delicate balance achieved, stating, “The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track.” She reiterated that preserving institutional independence remains “vital to academic excellence and scholarly exploration.”
Commenting on the landmark agreement, Donald Trump celebrated the outcome on his Truth Social platform: “I am pleased to announce that the Trump Administration has reached a historic agreement with Columbia University. Columbia has agreed to pay a penalty of $200 Million Dollars to the United States Government for violating Federal Law, in addition to over $20 Million to their Jewish employees who were unlawfully targeted and harassed. Columbia has also committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus.”
He further added, “Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming. It’s a great honor to have been involved, and I want to thank and congratulate Secretary Linda McMahon, and all those who worked with us on this important deal. I also want to thank and commend Columbia University for agreeing to do what is right. I look forward to watching them have a great future in our Country, maybe greater than ever before!”
Prior to Wednesday’s settlement, the Trump administration had already revoked hundreds of millions in federal research grants from Columbia due to its perceived inadequate handling of anti-Israel campus protests. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that discussions were underway between Columbia’s board of trustees and the Trump administration regarding the potential reinstatement of federal funding. Columbia had previously agreed to some of the Trump administration’s demands, such as restricting masks and empowering campus police, but these earlier concessions had not led to the restoration of federal funding.
Columbia’s own task force had previously uncovered that Jewish students experienced verbal abuse and classroom exclusion during protests in spring 2024, even as protest leaders maintained their actions were solely directed against Israeli government policy, not Jewish students. This settlement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing national debate over antisemitism on university campuses.
