Columbia University to Pay $200 Million in Federal Settlement
Columbia University has reached a $200 million settlement with the Trump administration following allegations that it failed to adequately protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests on its New York City campus.
The settlement, to be paid over three years, was confirmed in a joint statement released by Columbia and acknowledged by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. In return, the federal government has agreed to restore a portion of the $400 million in research grants that were frozen or revoked earlier this year.
The deal comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. universities, with Columbia being the first institution formally targeted by the administration over its handling of antisemitism-related incidents, particularly in the wake of last year’s Israel-Gaza war protests.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon hailed the agreement as a “seismic shift” in holding higher education institutions accountable. “Columbia’s reforms will serve as a model for other elite universities seeking to rebuild public trust,” she said.
Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, described the settlement as a “step forward” after months of federal pressure. “The agreement was carefully crafted to safeguard our institutional values while restoring critical research partnerships with the federal government,” she noted.
As part of the agreement, Columbia will implement a range of campus reforms already in progress, including changes to its Middle Eastern studies department, the appointment of a federal-approved independent monitor, stricter demonstration policies, and increased security personnel. Protesters must now display campus identification, face masks will be banned during demonstrations, and student groups will face tighter oversight.
Additionally, the university will take disciplinary action against students involved in last year’s encampment protests and expand its team of “special officers” with authority to remove disruptive individuals and make arrests.
While Columbia emphasized that the settlement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing, the move signals a shift in university governance under increasing federal influence. Critics have accused the Ivy League institution of surrendering its autonomy in response to political pressure.
President Trump applauded the agreement on social media, stating Columbia had “committed to ending their ridiculous DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students.”
The settlement arrives as part of a broader campaign by the administration to reshape higher education policy. According to the Center for American Progress, more than 4,000 federal grants worth an estimated $8 billion have been targeted for termination across over 600 colleges and universities.
While Columbia has opted for compliance, Harvard University has taken a confrontational stance. Facing its own suspension of federal funds and a halt to international student enrolments, Harvard has sued the government, arguing the administration’s actions violate academic freedom. Court hearings in the high-profile case began earlier this week.
With Columbia setting a precedent, federal officials are now positioning the settlement as a potential blueprint for reform. “I believe these changes will ripple across campus culture for years to come,” McMahon said.
