Columbia University has agreed to pay more than $220 million to the Trump administration to restore access to federal research funding suspended earlier this year amid allegations the Ivy League school failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas war, the university announced Wednesday.
Under the terms of the agreement, Columbia will pay $200 million to the federal government over three years, along with a separate $21 million payment to resolve related probes by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The administration had previously frozen or canceled approximately $400 million in federal research grants.
"This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said in a statement. "The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track."
Columbia was among the first academic institutions targeted under the Trump administration's broader campaign to combat campus antisemitism, which intensified following student-led protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict that erupted in October 2023. In March, the administration moved to terminate the university's research funding, citing its failure to protect Jewish students.
In April, Columbia enacted a number of reforms to comply with federal demands, including changes to protest protocols, disciplinary measures for students involved in Gaza-related encampments, and the restructuring of its Middle Eastern studies department. The agreement formalizes many of these reforms and introduces new oversight measures.
According to university officials, students participating in demonstrations will now be required to show university identification and are barred from wearing face coverings. Additional provisions include enhanced oversight of student organizations and increased campus security.
As part of the settlement, the university and the administration will appoint an independent monitor to oversee implementation. Columbia said that most of the previously frozen or canceled grants would be reinstated under the deal.
"The terms of the agreement would safeguard the school's independence," Shipman added, noting that the university does not view the settlement as an admission of wrongdoing.
