Columbia University has agreed to pay $220 million to settle disputes with the Trump administration, averting potential funding cuts. The settlement includes a $200 million payment over three years to the federal government and $21 million to resolve Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigations. The administration had withheld funding, citing the university's alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus following the October 2023 Israel-Gaza war. The agreement follows Columbia's adoption of reforms, including disciplinary actions against over 70 students involved in a May protest.

The settlement codifies previously agreed-upon reforms to Columbia's student disciplinary process and its definition of antisemitism. In exchange, the White House will reinstate $400 million in federal funding previously withheld. The deal is notable as the first between a university and the Trump administration, which has actively sought to reshape higher education institutions. Researchers estimate Columbia faced potential losses of $1.2 billion in additional funding.

This agreement, overseen by an independent monitor, represents a significant concession by Columbia to avoid further financial repercussions. However, it falls short of the administration's most stringent demands.

Impact Statement: The settlement sets a precedent for future interactions between the Trump administration and universities facing similar scrutiny, potentially influencing the landscape of higher education funding and institutional autonomy.