Columbia, Trump Admin Near $400M Civil Rights Deal

Columbia University is nearing a settlement with the Trump administration that would restore over $400 million in federal funding previously revoked over alleged failures to protect Jewish students and address broader civil rights violations. The draft agreement requires Columbia to pay around $200 million or more in compensation to affected individuals, enhance transparency in admissions, hiring, and foreign donations, and adopt new reporting obligations to comply with anti-discrimination laws. Stricter measures such as a consent decree and governance reforms have been dropped from the deal. Columbia’s negotiation strategy—contrasting with Harvard’s choice to pursue legal action—has been criticized by some in academia. The White House sees the agreement as a significant policy win and a model for similar actions at other universities. Final terms are still being discussed, with further meetings between Columbia and administration officials expected soon.