In a bold and controversial move, Columbia University has reached a $220 million agreement with the Trump administration, aiming to resolve the looming threat of massive federal funding cuts. But the pact, while ending intense scrutiny, is bound to stir backlash due to the extraordinary compromises made by the prestigious Ivy League school.
As part of the deal, Columbia will shell out $200 million over three years to the federal government, and an additional $21 million to settle cases brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,” said Acting University President Claire Shipman.
The dispute originated from the administration’s claim that Columbia failed to address antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Gaza war, which erupted in October 2023.
To avoid losing further support, Columbia agreed to several demands from the Republican-led administration. These included revamping its student disciplinary system and adopting a new definition of antisemitism — reforms that are now officially part of Wednesday’s agreement.
Just a day before the deal was announced, Columbia revealed it had disciplined over 70 students who took part in a May protest opposing the Gaza conflict.
This agreement marks a historic moment — it’s the first time a university has bowed to an administration that openly labeled higher education institutions as adversaries, launching an aggressive campaign to transform them. The government has already withheld billions in grants and contracts, using them as leverage to push its sweeping demands on academic institutions.
The timing is striking. The same week, Harvard University appeared in federal court to challenge the administration’s decision to cut $2.6 billion in funding, alleging the move was politically motivated. So far, Harvard is the only university to file a lawsuit against the administration’s education overhaul.
Back in April, Brown University was also threatened with a $510 million funding freeze, while Cornell, Northwestern, University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton have been warned of similar consequences.
In return for Columbia’s cooperation, the White House has agreed to restore $400 million in federal funds that were previously slashed amid accusations that the university allowed antisemitic sentiments to grow unchecked.
Before this resolution, researchers estimated Columbia faced a potential $1.2 billion freeze in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). After the initial $400 million cut, NIH went further by freezing or terminating unspent grants previously awarded to Columbia, putting its scientific research efforts in jeopardy.
In a June message to alumni, Shipman warned that the university was nearing “a tipping point in preserving our research excellence and the work we do for humanity.”
Although the Trump administration may claim victory in its campaign to reform academia, the agreement stops short of their most extreme demands — such as enforcing a legally binding consent decree and a complete overhaul of Columbia’s governance structure.
Earlier this month, Columbia rolled out new initiatives to combat antisemitism. These include embracing the controversial IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism and launching mandatory antisemitism training. These moves come after two years of escalating pressure from students, alumni, and lawmakers who accused the university of tolerating pro-Palestinian demonstrations that were seen by some as antisemitic.
As part of the agreement, Columbia will now be under the watch of an independent monitor, jointly chosen by both parties. This watchdog will deliver biannual reports to the government, ensuring the university’s compliance and progress on reforms.
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"In a landmark deal, Columbia University agrees to pay $220M and overhaul its policies to appease the Trump administration amid accusations of campus antisemitism. Funding restored—but at what cost?"