Columbia University to Pay $200M+ to Settle Trump Investigations

Columbia University has agreed to pay more than $200 million to the U.S. government to settle multiple investigations tied to last year’s Gaza-related campus protests.

The settlement includes $21 million to resolve a complaint from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and allows the university to regain access to a majority of its suspended federal funding, estimated to total nearly $400 million.

The Trump administration had accused Columbia of failing to address antisemitism and campus safety during pro-Palestinian demonstrations properly.

In response, the university agreed to implement changes, including increased oversight of departments offering Middle East studies and new policies to address harassment concerns.

While critics view the deal as federal overreach into academic freedom, Columbia stated that it retains autonomy over hiring, admissions, and curriculum decisions. This move comes as part of a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on universities amid a surge in campus activism related to the war in Gaza.