Columbia University to pay $221 M to the U.S. government to settle federal feud and restore funding

"Columbia University has reached an agreement with the United States government to resolve multiple federal agency investigations into alleged violations of federal anti-discrimination laws. As part of the resolution, Columbia will pay a $200 M settlement over three years to the federal government", announces Claire Shipman, Columbia University's acting President, on 23/07/2025.

The university also agrees to settle investigations brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for $21 M, it reports, bringing the total due to the government to $221 M.

The settlement comes after Columbia University complied with President Donald Trump’s demands in negotiations to restore $400 M in federal funding in March 2025. Grants and contracts were cancelled by the administration over allegations of antisemitism on the New York City campus, mainly after students protested the Israeli-Palestinian war in 2024.

"Under today’s agreement, a vast majority of the federal grants which were terminated or paused in March 2025 will be reinstated, and Columbia’s access to billions of dollars in…