Columbia University Strikes $221 Million Deal to Restore Federal Research Funding

 

Columbia University has agreed to pay more than $220 million in a landmark settlement with the Trump administration to restore federal research funding that was previously revoked amid allegations of antisemitism on campus.

Under the terms of the deal:

• Columbia will pay $200 million over three years to the federal government.
• An additional $21 million will settle investigations by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, marking one of the largest public employment discrimination settlements in nearly two decades.

The Trump administration had suspended over $400 million in federal grants earlier this year, citing Columbia’s failure to adequately address antisemitic incidents during campus protests following the October 2023 Hamas attacks.

In response, Columbia agreed to a series of reforms, including:

• Overhauling its student disciplinary process.
• Adopting a federally endorsed definition of antisemitism.
• Reviewing its Middle East curriculum for balance.
• Ending programs that promote unlawful race-based diversity targets or DEI goals.

The university will also:

• Submit reports to a federal monitor to ensure compliance.
• Screen international applicants about their reasons for studying in the U.S.
• Share disciplinary records of student visa holders with federal authorities.

Acting President Claire Shipman emphasized that the agreement preserves Columbia’s academic autonomy while allowing its research partnership with the federal government to resume. “This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,” she said.

President Donald Trump hailed the settlement as a “historic agreement,” asserting it sets a precedent for other elite universities facing similar scrutiny.