Columbia University has agreed to pay over $200 million to settle allegations made by the Trump administration that it failed to adequately protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment on campus. The settlement ends a federal investigation triggered by incidents of verbal abuse, ostracism, and hostile behavior directed at Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests linked to the heightened Israel-Gaza conflict in 2023–2024. The Trump administration had canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia earlier this year as a penalty for what it deemed insufficient action against antisemitism. In return for paying the settlement over three years, Columbia will regain most of its federal funding and commit to sweeping reforms to combat antisemitism, enforce campus order, and comply with federal civil rights laws—without admitting wrongdoing.
Columbia University faces major federal probe under Donald Trump
In March 2025, the Trump administration halted $400 million in federal grants to Columbia after concluding that the university had failed to address persistent harassment and threats against Jewish students, which emerged amid volatile protests by pro-Palestinian groups following the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Gaza. This investigation was part of a broader push by the administration to clamp down on what it viewed as anti-Israel activism crossing into antisemitism on US campuses. Columbia, a prestigious Ivy League institution, faced significant scrutiny as the first university specifically targeted for such allegations under this policy.
Terms of the historic settlement
Under the settlement agreement, Columbia will pay $200 million in penalties to the federal government over a three-year period. This financial penalty is coupled with a $21 million settlement resolving claims from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Importantly, Columbia denies any wrongdoing but recognizes the serious challenges posed by antisemitism on its campus and expresses commitment to reform. The deal restores the majority of the frozen federal grants and preserves Columbia’s autonomy over academic and administrative decisions.
Reforms Columbia has committed to implementing
To restore federal trust and prevent future violations, Columbia has committed to implementing the following changes:
- Hiring additional public safety officers with arrest authority
- Establishing an independent monitor jointly selected to oversee compliance
- Strictly regulating protests, such as banning demonstrations inside academic buildings and requiring protesters to identify themselves when masked
- Recruiting faculty experts in Middle Eastern and Israel studies to foster balanced academic discourse
- Appointing a dedicated administrator to address Jewish student concerns
- Ensuring admissions and faculty hiring comply with merit-based, non-discriminatory standards, aligning with Supreme Court rulings against affirmative action
Impact and political reactions
The settlement represents a landmark victory for the Trump administration’s approach to campus activism, emphasizing stricter oversight of universities regarding antisemitism and politically sensitive protests. Columbia’s acting president stated that while the settlement is substantial, it is necessary to protect the university’s reputation and federal funding. Student groups aligned with pro-Palestinian causes criticized the deal, viewing it as capitulation to political pressure and branding it as an attempt to silence dissent.Columbia University’s $200 million settlement with the Trump administration underscores the intense national focus on antisemitism in higher education and the political complexities surrounding campus protests linked to international conflicts. The agreement restores essential funding for Columbia but also imposes significant reforms designed to better protect Jewish students and ensure a climate of civil discourse—signaling ongoing challenges for US universities navigating activism, free speech, and anti-discrimination expectations in a polarized environment.
