Columbia University Plans Compliance with Trump Administration to Restore $400 Million Funding

Columbia University has agreed to comply with the Trump administration's demands to restore $400 million in federal funding, which was suspended due to concerns about antisemitism on campus. In a memo, the university outlined significant changes, including banning face masks, enhancing police authority on campus, and restructuring its Middle East Studies department under new administrative oversight. These measures are intended to address allegations of insufficient protections for Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests. The agreement has sparked concerns about academic freedom, as it represents a shift in how federal influence may dictate academic governance. Columbia's interim president emphasized the importance of responding to both internal and external concerns regarding discrimination and harassment. The situation at Columbia is being closely monitored by other institutions facing similar scrutiny from the federal government.