President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that Columbia University will pay a $200 million penalty to the federal government for its handling of anti-Israel protests.
The university will also pay $20 million in damages to Jewish employees who were “unlawfully targeted and harassed.”
In exchange, the Trump administration will restore federal funding and shut down several ongoing investigations into the New York-based Ivy League institution.
Trump: “A Historic Agreement”
“I am pleased to announce that the Trump Administration has reached a historic agreement with Columbia University,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
He emphasized:
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$200 million penalty to the U.S. government
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$20+ million in compensation to Jewish employees
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A full reversal of the university’s DEI agenda
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A commitment to merit-based admissions only
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Restoration of civil liberties for students on campus
“Columbia has also committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies… and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students,” Trump added.
No More Racial Quotas or DEI Programs
According to the settlement:
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All admissions must now be based on merit only
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Diversity statements and similar proxies for race are banned
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Hiring must be based solely on academic and professional merit
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Women-only spaces like housing, sports, and locker rooms will be preserved
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DEI programs promoting race-based goals are prohibited
Columbia must also submit detailed admissions data—including student race, GPA, and test scores—to prove compliance.
Columbia Agrees Without Admitting Guilt
While Columbia did not admit wrongdoing, the university acknowledged that “Jewish students and faculty have experienced painful, unacceptable incidents.”
The school agreed to:
Acting university president Claire Shipman called it a way to “move forward” after months of federal pressure:
“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty.”
Crackdown Follows Campus Chaos
The settlement comes just days after Columbia expelled or suspended over 70 students, many of whom had stormed the campus library during anti-Israel protests.
Trump warned more universities could face similar action:
“Numerous other Higher Education Institutions… are upcoming,” he said.
He credited Secretary Linda McMahon and others in his administration for finalizing the deal and praised Columbia for “agreeing to do what is right.”
