Columbia Settlement Could be Model for Trump to Reshape Higher Education

Introduction to the Settlement

The Trump administration’s milestone settlement with Columbia promises to bring stability to a university in crisis. It also delivers a crucial win to President Donald Trump in his campaign to reshape higher education. And at colleges around the country, the deal clarifies the stakes for anyone weighing whether to fight the administration’s demands or concede. Columbia agreed to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research money that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.

Details of the Settlement

That decision offers a contrast to the path taken by Harvard University, which has lost billions of dollars in government funding as its legal battle escalates with no end in sight. Yet the Columbia deal also raises questions about university independence as the school submits to closer federal oversight. No sooner had Trump announced the deal than he sent a warning: Numerous other universities, he said, “are upcoming.” The deal is the first to settle a federal antisemitism investigation since Trump returned to office. It’s also the first agreement with a university touching on so many elements of the president’s agenda, from admissions and campus protests to women’s sports and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Provisions of the Settlement

Columbia agreed to some provisions similar to those that Harvard rejected and called a dangerous precedent. The settlement requires the hiring of new faculty in Jewish studies and a review of academics to ensure “balance.” Columbia will be placed under the watch of an independent monitor and ordered to disclose hiring, admission and discipline data to be audited for compliance. In what Columbia described as a victory for university autonomy, the agreement includes a clause saying the government has no authority to dictate hiring, admissions decisions or the content of academic speech. Acting University President Claire Shipman said it was “carefully crafted to protect the values that define us” while restoring the university’s federal research funding.

Reactions to the Settlement

Where some see pragmatism, others see capitulation

Some at Columbia called it the best feasible outcome. Some called it capitulation. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., a Columbia graduate whose district includes the Manhattan campus, called it a “cowardly” agreement. Columbia has effectively waved “the white flag of surrender in its battle at the heart of the Trump Administration’s war on higher education and academic freedom,” Nadler said. Columbia had been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support, including more than $400 million in research grants canceled earlier this year.

Legal Questions and Implications

David Pozen, a law professor at Columbia, said the settlement raises legal questions about Trump’s strategy of regulation by dealmaking. Instead of applying a single standard across all of higher education, Pozen said, Trump is relying on one-off deals with individual universities as a condition to regain federal funding. “In short, the agreement gives legal form to an extortion scheme,” he said. The American Council on Education, which represents hundreds of university presidents, exhorted the administration to “return to following the rule of law.” “This cannot be a template for the government’s approach to American higher education,” said Ted Mitchell, the group’s president. “Columbia was put in an untenable position by the outrageous actions of the executive branch of the government.”

Impact on Higher Education

Dozens of colleges are facing federal investigations

With the deal, Trump has new momentum in his expanding campaign to bring the nation’s universities in line with his vision. Dozens of campuses are under federal investigation for allegations related to antisemitism, DEI and transgender athletes in women’s sports. Trump has saved his strongest rebuke for elite private universities, yet his administration has also recently turned attention to big public universities including George Mason University. Among Trump’s backers, the Columbia agreement is seen as a first step to counteract the liberal bias they say has permeated college campuses.

Potential Consequences for Universities

Education Secretary Linda McMahon called Columbia’s reforms a roadmap for universities looking to regain public trust. “I believe they will ripple across the higher education sector and change the course of campus culture for years to come,” McMahon said in a statement. The settlement follows smaller wins for the administration, including a recent deal with the University of Pennsylvania over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Penn agreed to modify school records held by Thomas and to apologize to female athletes “disadvantaged” by Thomas’ participation. Just days earlier, the president of the University of Virginia agreed to resign amid a Justice Department investigation over DEI policies.

Conclusion

The Columbia settlement could be a model for Trump to reshape higher education, with potential consequences for universities across the country. The deal raises questions about university independence and the role of the federal government in shaping higher education policy. As the Trump administration continues its campaign to bring universities in line with its vision, it remains to be seen how other institutions will respond to the settlement and the potential implications for higher education as a whole.

FAQs

• Q: What is the significance of the Columbia settlement?
  A: The Columbia settlement is significant because it marks a major win for the Trump administration in its campaign to reshape higher education and could serve as a model for future agreements with other universities.
• Q: What are the terms of the settlement?
  A: The settlement requires Columbia to pay over $220 million to the federal government, hire new faculty in Jewish studies, and submit to closer federal oversight, among other provisions.
• Q: How might the settlement impact other universities?
  A: The settlement could have significant implications for other universities, particularly those under federal investigation for allegations related to antisemitism, DEI, and transgender athletes in women’s sports.
• Q: What are the potential consequences for universities that do not comply with the Trump administration’s demands?
  A: Universities that do not comply with the Trump administration’s demands could face significant financial and reputational consequences, including the loss of federal funding and damage to their reputation.
• Q: How has the higher education community responded to the settlement?
  A: The higher education community has responded to the settlement with a mix of criticism and concern, with some viewing it as a necessary step to restore federal funding and others seeing it as a threat to university independence and academic freedom.

  Originally Published: July 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM EDT