Columbia University has agreed to a $221 million settlement with the Trump administration, resolving claims of inadequate response to anti-Semitism on campus. The agreement, reached on Wednesday, follows the government's February decision to cut $400 million in federal research funding. This action was taken in response to alleged harassment of Jewish students and faculty, stemming from campus protests against Israel's actions in Gaza in 2024 and 2025.

The settlement includes a $200 million payment to the government over three years, and an additional $21 million to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In return, Columbia will regain access to the majority of the withheld funding, along with billions in current and future grants. The university is also required to implement various reforms, including appointing a compliance administrator, reviewing its Middle East curriculum, and appointing new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. The deal also mandates a review of programs to ensure they do not promote “unlawful DEI goals.”

Columbia's acting president, Claire Shipman, stated the settlement protects the university's values while restoring its research partnership with the federal government. President Trump lauded the agreement as "historic," while student activist groups criticized it as a "bribe." The agreement establishes Bart Schwartz of Guidepost Solutions as an independent monitor.

Impact Statement: This settlement sets a precedent for future interactions between the Trump administration and universities regarding claims of anti-Semitism and campus activism, potentially influencing policies at other institutions.