Columbia Settles Federal Probe, Funding Restored

Columbia University has agreed to pay over $220 million, including $200 million to the federal government and $21 million to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to settle Trump administration investigations into alleged antisemitism and civil rights violations on campus during the Israel-Hamas war. The settlement follows the Trump administration's suspension of over $400 million in federal funding, citing Columbia's failure to address antisemitic harassment amid pro-Palestinian protests. As part of the agreement, Columbia will implement reforms such as overhauling its student disciplinary process, adopting a new definition of antisemitism, reviewing its Middle East studies curriculum, and hiring new faculty for Jewish and Israel studies. The deal preserves Columbia's autonomy over academic decisions and does not include an admission of wrongdoing. Acting President Claire Shipman described the settlement as an important step to safeguard academic independence and restore federal research partnerships. The settlement is seen as establishing a significant precedent for federal oversight of universities' responses to campus protests and discrimination.