In a landmark agreement, Columbia University has settled with the Trump administration over allegations of persistent antisemitism on campus.
The university has committed to a substantial payment plan to restore its federal research funding, which had been frozen due to the allegations.
According to Breitbart, Columbia University has agreed to pay the Trump administration $200 million over three years. Additionally, the university will pay $21 million to settle Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigations. This settlement will allow the return of $400 million in previously frozen federal grants and the majority of its $1.3 billion annual federal funding.
The Trump administration had previously withdrawn $400 million in federal grants and contracts, accusing the university of failing to act decisively against ongoing harassment of Jewish students.
Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman acknowledged the substantial nature of the settlements in a statement, saying, "I recognize these are substantial settlements. As Acting President, together with our Board of Trustees, we had to look at all the facts The prospect of that continuing indefinitely, along with the potential loss of top scientists, would jeopardize our status as a world-leading research institution."
Shipman further emphasized the university's careful consideration of all available options. She noted that while short-term litigation victories were possible, they would likely result in deeper long-term damage, such as the potential loss of future federal funding, the possibility of losing accreditation, and the potential revocation of visa status for thousands of international students.
As part of the agreement, Columbia University has committed to combating antisemitism and violence on campus, a pledge it initially made in March. The university has also promised to reject DEI policies, instead opting to adhere to civil rights laws that prohibit consideration of race in admissions and hiring processes.
The agreement also settles more than half a dozen open civil rights investigations into the university. An independent monitor, agreed upon by both the university and the federal government, will report on the university's progress every six months. Despite the settlement, Shipman clarified that the university has not admitted to violating civil rights laws. However, she did not deny the "very serious and painful challenges our institution has faced with antisemitism."
The agreement is a significant victory for the Trump administration, which has been cracking down on funding for Columbia and other elite universities to address DEI and antisemitism, among other civil rights issues. Columbia is the first university to settle with the administration over allegations of antisemitism.
Shipman, who has been acting president since late March, revealed that she engaged in several months of intense negotiations with the administration. She worked closely with the board of trustees, attorneys, and an academic leadership team to make the White Houses demands workable for the university.
"Ultimately, we had to make the decision that was the right decision for Columbia," she said. "And I think we have made that decision. We werent reckless. In my view, it was important to slow things down and be extraordinarily deliberate, and that was actually quite hard to do."
This settlement marks a turning point for Columbia University, allowing it to move forward from a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty. It also sets a precedent for other universities facing similar allegations and funding cuts, potentially providing a template for future settlements.
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