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Recently, Columbia University announced that it will be paying over $200 million to the U.S. government as part of a settlement reached with the Trump administration. This settlement aims to resolve federal investigations and restore most of the university’s suspended federal funding.
Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, he has targeted several universities, especially in connection with protests by pro-Palestinian student groups that disrupted campuses last year. The university’s support for the agreement was shared by Trump himself, who posted about it on social media late Wednesday.
Back in March, the Trump administration highlighted Columbia University as a target for sanctions, citing the decision to cancel $400 million in federal funding. They claimed that Columbia’s response to allegations of antisemitism and harassment toward Jewish and Israeli students was inadequate.
According to Columbia, the new agreement will see most of the federal grants that were cut or paused in March 2025 being reinstated. This means the university’s access to billions of dollars in current and future federal funds will be restored. Additionally, Columbia will settle investigations with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by paying $21 million. The university emphasized that the settlement allows it to maintain control over faculty hiring, admissions, and academic decisions.
Following the funding suspension, Columbia agreed to several conditions earlier this year, including increased scrutiny of Middle Eastern studies courses and other concessions. These measures sparked criticism from academics across the U.S. who viewed them as an infringement on scholarly independence.
Recently, Columbia adopted a contentious new definition of antisemitism that equates it with opposition to Zionism, which drew further controversy. The university also announced it would no longer cooperate with the pro-Palestinian group Columbia University Apartheid Divest.
Pro-Palestinian activists condemned the settlement, viewing it as a bribe that effectively silences criticism of Israel and pays Trump millions of dollars. Demonstrators on campus are calling for an end to U.S. support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and are demanding that the university stop investing in companies that support Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that Columbia has agreed to implement several changes, including disciplining students responsible for major disruptions, restructuring their Faculty Senate, promoting diverse viewpoints within Middle Eastern studies, eliminating race-conscious hiring and admissions practices, and ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Critics argue that the government’s framing of pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic is overly broad. Many protesters, including some Jewish groups, say their criticisms of Israeli policies are being unfairly conflated with hatred or extremism.
Just a day before, Columbia had disciplined several students involved in a recent pro-Palestinian demonstration that resulted in their seizing the university’s main library.
The settlement also requires Columbia to conduct a thorough review of its international admissions policies. Within 30 days, the university must appoint an official accountable to the president to oversee compliance with these new directives, including investigating and addressing issues related to antisemitism.
Furthermore, the university will designate an additional administrator to explore allegations of antisemitism and suggest appropriate actions.
Meanwhile, former President Trump has attempted to leverage federal funding policies against other institutions, such as Harvard University. His administration has also tried to deport international pro-Palestinian students, including some at Columbia, though these efforts have faced legal challenges. Advocates for student rights highlight concerns over due process, academic freedom, and free speech amidst these actions.
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