Columbia University has agreed to pay the Trump administration $200 million over the next three years as part of a broader deal to restore federal research funding, government and school officials announced Wednesday.
The implementation of the agreement — which caps off months of uncertainty since $400 million was revoked over allegations Columbia had not done enough to combat antisemitism — will be overseen by an independent monitor.
The resolution agreement extends beyond the concerns of Jewish students and also bans racial preferences in hiring and admissions and other diversity, equity and inclusion programming, according to a statement from the federal government.
“The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track,” said Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman. “Importantly, it safeguards our independence, a critical condition for academic excellence and scholarly exploration, work that is vital to the public interest.”
In reaching a resolution, Columbia does not have to admit any wrongdoing. However, the statement said Jewish students and faculty have experienced “painful, unacceptable incidents” and “reform was and is needed.”
The agreement codifies the original deal Columbia announced in March, which included oversight of Middle Eastern studies and gave some campus security personnel the power of arrest. The original deal sparked months of sustained protests and a lawsuit brought by faculty who accused Columbia of letting the government intervene in university affairs.
Over the last couple of weeks, the university has also moved to adopt a definition of antisemitism that recognizes some criticism of Israel as discriminatory against Jews, and suspend or expel dozens of student protesters.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the deal as a “seismic shift” to hold universities that benefit from American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitism.
“Our elite campuses have been overrun by anti-Western teachings and a leftist groupthink that restricts speech and debate to push a one-sided view of our nation and the world,” McMahon said. “Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap for elite universities that wish to regain the confidence of the American public.”
In addition to the $200 million settlement, Columbia will also pay $21 million into a claims fund to settle investigations brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The deal also starts a two-week clock to notify Columbia’s accreditor of the federal government’s release of liability after the Trump administration applied pressure on the body to crack down on the university.
Going forward, Columbia must also provide “all-female” sports and locker rooms and take steps related to international students — including a review of its international student admissions policies, reducing dependence on their tuition, and notifying the government if they are arrested.
The resolution monitor will be Bart Schwartz of Guidepost Solutions, who was mutually agreed upon by Columbia and the Trump administration and paid for by the university. He previously served as the federal monitor of the New York City Housing Authority, according to his biography.
Schwartz will receive “regular reports” from Columbia on its compliance with laws related to “admissions, hiring, and international students,” the Columbia officials wrote. The admissions data must be broken down by race, grades and test scores.
Despite the deal, a portion of Columbia’s federal research funding will not be reinstated, which was cancelled through a separate process from the antisemitism investigation, according to the school’s announcement. While the university did not offer any specifics, the Trump administration has terminated grants nationwide related to DEI programs and transgender people, for example.
Early reports of the agreement were met with criticism on both sides, with pro-Palestinian student groups accusing Columbia of capitulating to Trump, while supporters of Israel said it did not add much to existing law and school policy to combat anti-Jewish discrimination.
“We’re delighted that our faculty can return to their research, but disappointed that the agreement doesn’t do more for Jewish and Israeli students,” a group called Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students wrote on X.
In an email to students and faculty at the end of the night, Shipman countered that the consequences went further than $400 million in revoked research grants, but could have impacted a majority of its $1.3 billion in federal funding placed on hold.
“We might have achieved short-term litigation victories, but not without incurring deeper long-term damage — the likely loss of future federal funding, the possibility of losing accreditation, and the potential revocation of visa status of thousands of international students,” Shipman wrote, referencing some of the consequences Harvard University, which chose to sue the federal government, has faced.
“For months, Columbia’s discussions with the federal government have been set up as a test of principle — a binary fight between courage and capitulation,” she added. “But like most things in life, the reality is far more complex.”
Originally Published: July 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM EDT
