Columbia agrees to pay $200 million fine to settle Trump admin dispute

Columbia University has agreed to pay a $200 million fine to resolve a Trump administration investigation into alleged violations of federal anti-discrimination laws. The agreement will restore the university's federal funding, which was pulled in March due to allegations of harassment of Jewish students. The university will also pay an additional $21 million to settle investigations brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. President Trump stated that Columbia has committed to ending its DEI policies, admitting students based on merit, and protecting civil liberties on campus. However, Columbia's acting president, Claire Shipman, noted that the university does not admit wrongdoing and disagrees with the government's conclusion that it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The settlement includes provisions for a liaison to the Jewish community and structural changes to the Faculty Senate. Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the deal, stating that it marks a "seismic shift" in holding institutions accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment. The agreement also requires Columbia to eliminate race preferences from its hiring and admissions practices and end DEI programs that distribute benefits based on race. The university had previously announced sanctions against students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, including degree revocations and expulsions. The deal will restore a vast majority of the federal grants that were terminated or paused in March.