Columbia University just inked a jaw-dropping deal with the Trump administration to tackle accusations of ignoring antisemitism on campus.
Breitbart reported that Columbia has agreed to pay a hefty $200 million fine over three years, ditch divisive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, and restore hundreds of millions in federal funding as part of a settlement announced on Thursday after negotiations concluded the day prior.
This saga kicked off when the Trump administration pulled the plug on $400 million in federal grants and contracts, pointing fingers at Columbia for failing to address persistent harassment of Jewish students.
After months of intense back-and-forth, Acting President Claire Shipman, alongside the board of trustees and legal team, hammered out this agreement on Wednesday, signaling a major pivot for the university.
The financial sting doesn’t stop at $200 million—Columbia will also shell out $21 million to wrap up Equal Employment Opportunity Commission probes, a bitter pill for an institution already under scrutiny.
Yet, there’s a silver lining: the university gets back its $400 million in frozen grants and secures most of its $1.3 billion in annual federal funding, a lifeline for research and operations.
In a move that’s sure to raise eyebrows among progressive circles, Columbia has pledged to abandon DEI frameworks, opting instead to strictly adhere to civil rights laws that prohibit race-based considerations in admissions and hiring.
This isn’t just about money—Columbia has recommitted to promises made earlier in March to stamp out antisemitism and campus violence, with an independent monitor set to keep tabs on progress every six months.
Interestingly, the university hasn’t admitted to any civil rights violations in this deal, maintaining control over its academic and operational decisions without federal overreach on curriculum or faculty matters.
“I recognize these are substantial settlements,” Shipman noted, acknowledging the tough spot Columbia found itself in. But let’s be real—facing indefinite funding cuts and the risk of losing top talent, what choice did they have?
“We might have achieved short-term litigation victories, but not without incurring deeper long-term damage,” Shipman added. While her caution is understandable, some might argue this settlement looks more like capitulation than a principled stand for academic values.
“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny,” Shipman also said. Yet, one wonders if this step forward is more about dodging a financial cliff than truly addressing campus culture.
This settlement isn’t just a win for the Trump administration’s push against what many conservatives see as a misguided progressive agenda—it’s also a potential blueprint for other elite schools like Harvard, which is currently in negotiations after suing over similar funding cuts.
Columbia stands as the first university to resolve such allegations with the administration, a fact that could nudge others to follow suit rather than risk prolonged battles over federal dollars.