Columbia University to pay $221 million to settle Trump probes

Columbia University has agreed to pay $221 million (€188 million) to the federal government in a deal to settle the investigations into the school's campus and restorefederal funding, it announced on Wednesday.

This includes a $200 million payment over three years to settle antisemitism investigations and a $21 million payout to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

"Importantly, the agreement preserves Columbia's autonomy and authority over faculty hiring, admissions, and academic decision-making," the university said in a statement.

The deal means that a "vast majority" of federal grants that were terminated or paused in March will be reinstated.

Acting University President Claire Shipman said it "marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty."

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Falling in line

The settlement deal comes a day after the university said it had"sanctioned" dozens of studentsfor their role in stagingpro-Palestinian protests on campusin May 2025 andthe spring of 2024. The disciplinary actions include suspensions, probations, expulsions and revocations of degrees.

Columbia was the epicenter of nationwide campus protests last year against thewar in Gaza.

US PresidentDonald Trump's administration has put intense pressure on the prestigious university andothers, accusing them of failing to address allegedantisemitism.

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The school agreed to implementa series of contentious policy reformsafter Trump pulled its $400 million in federal grant funds. The US president alleged thepro-Palestinian activistsharassed Jewish and Israeli students. Protesting students, which included several Jewish students, denied Trump's claims.

The school's reforms include overhauling the student disciplinary process, changing the definition of antisemitism, appointing new Jewish faculty, reviewing its Middle East curriculum and ending programs withdiversity, equality and inclusiongoals.

Edited by: Sean Sinico