❓WHAT HAPPENED: Columbia University agreed to a $200 million settlement with the Trump administration and an additional $20 million payment to Jewish employees over claims of harassment and anti-Israel protests.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Columbia University, Secretary Linda McMahon, and acting University President Claire Shipman.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The settlement was announced Wednesday night, involving Columbia University in New York City.
💬KEY QUOTE: “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.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: Columbia must review its Middle East-related programs, eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, and ensure merit-based admissions and hiring practices.
On Wednesday, President Donald J. Trump revealed that Columbia University will pay $200 million to resolve issues stemming from its management of anti-Israel protests and other issues, with $200 million going to the federal government and $20 million compensating Jewish employees “who were unlawfully targeted and harassed.”
As previously reported by The National Pulse, Columbia had been facing far harsher punishment, including the loss of $400 million in federal grants, its tax-exempt status, and potentially its accreditation, with controversial former Jeffrey Epstein lawyer Jay Lefkowitz said to have stepped in to negotiate a more favorable settlement.
“I am pleased to announce that the Trump Administration has reached a historic agreement with Columbia University. 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,” Trump said of the deal on Truth Social. He emphasized Columbia’s pledge to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, adopt merit-based admissions, and safeguard civil liberties.
The agreement mandates Columbia to reassess its Middle East-related programs, with the senior vice provost tasked with enhancing support for Jewish students. While denying liability, the university acknowledged that “Jewish students and faculty have experienced painful, unacceptable incidents.”
The settlement also bans DEI programs promoting race-based outcomes or quotas, enforces merit-based admissions without racial proxies, and requires detailed admissions data for compliance. Hiring must prioritize individual merit.
Interim President Claire Shipman called the settlement “an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,” noting it reinstates the university’s federal research partnership. This follows Columbia’s disciplinary actions against over 70 students involved in anti-Israel protests.
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