Columbia University Pays $220M In Historic Trump-Backed Settlement

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Columbia University has agreed to pay a staggering $220 million settlement after a federal probe into the school’s handling of anti-Israel protests and discriminatory practices. The agreement includes $200 million paid to the federal government and $20 million in compensation to Jewish employees who were “unlawfully targeted and harassed.”

“I am pleased to announce that the Trump Administration has reached a historic agreement with Columbia University,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Columbia has agreed to pay a penalty of $200 Million Dollars to the United States Government for violating Federal Law, in addition to over $20 Million to their Jewish employees who were unlawfully targeted and harassed. Columbia has also committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus.”

Trump praised the deal as a landmark victory for fairness in higher education and pledged that other universities misusing federal funds could face similar action. “Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming,” he said. He credited Secretary Linda McMahon and his administration for working on the settlement, while also commending Columbia for agreeing to “do what is right.”

Settlement highlights:

• Columbia must eliminate all DEI programs, diversity quotas, or race-based admissions criteria.

• Admissions must be strictly merit-based, and the university is required to report detailed data on accepted and rejected students, including race, GPA, and test scores.

• Women must have guaranteed access to female-only housing, sports teams, locker rooms, and showers.

• The university will review all Middle East-related programs and make new recommendations to support Jewish students and faculty.

Acting Columbia President Claire Shipman acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty. 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.”

The settlement comes just days after Columbia expelled or suspended over 70 students involved in anti-Israel protests, including those who participated in storming the university library. The incidents sparked a federal review into allegations of antisemitism and discrimination on campus.

The settlement’s prohibition on DEI initiatives signals a dramatic shift for Ivy League schools, many of which have leaned heavily into race-based admissions and diversity programs in recent years. Under the new agreement, Columbia will be held to a strict standard of merit-based evaluations for both students and staff, ensuring that academic excellence and professional qualifications rather than identity politics guide the university’s future.

Trump hailed the agreement as a model for future reforms in higher education: “It’s a great honor to have been involved, and I look forward to watching Columbia have a great future in our Country, maybe greater than ever before!”

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