Columbia University reaches $220 million settlement with Trump over antisemitism concerns

Columbia University has reached a $220 million settlement with the Trump administration to resolve federal investigations linked to antisemitism concerns and the suspension of research funding, the Ivy League institution announced on Wednesday.

Under the agreement, Columbia will pay $200 million over three years to the federal government and an additional $21 million to settle separate investigations by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The deal follows months of federal scrutiny after allegations that the university failed to effectively address antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas conflict that erupted in October 2023.

In response to pressure from the Trump administration, Columbia agreed earlier this year to a set of reforms, including adopting a new definition of antisemitism and revising its student disciplinary procedures.

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Acting University President Claire Shipman called the settlement “an important step forward,” saying it codifies the agreed changes while preserving the university’s academic independence. The agreement does not include an admission of wrongdoing.

At one point, Columbia faced the potential loss of billions in federal funding, including more than $400 million in research grants that had already been canceled. Shipman said the settlement restores the university’s critical research partnership with the federal government while protecting its institutional values.

As part of the deal, Columbia will also review its Middle East studies curriculum to ensure it is “comprehensive and balanced,” hire new faculty at the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, and dismantle programs deemed to promote unlawful race-based outcomes, quotas, or diversity targets.

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