Columbia University faces a significant defeat in anti-semitism dispute with Linda McMahon, who earns a triumphant victory.
In a landmark agreement reached in July 2025, Columbia University and the Trump administration settled allegations of antisemitic discrimination and civil rights violations on campus. The university agreed to pay a total of over $220 million, with $200 million going to the federal government over three years and an additional $21 million to settle claims brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding antisemitic employment discrimination against Jewish faculty [1][2][4].
The settlement comes after Columbia University lost over $400 million in grants due to its handling of campus unrest. The Trump administration had questioned the university's accreditation, citing its alleged failure to protect Jewish students from harassment and threats [5].
The settlement restored the suspended federal research funding and included a series of reforms designed to address the allegations. Columbia agreed to overhaul its student disciplinary process, adopt a new definition of antisemitism, enhance campus protest regulations, end certain diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and exclude racial preferences from admissions and hiring, among other changes [1][2][3][4].
Acting University President Claire Shipman emphasized that the university made no admission of wrongdoing but recognized the need for reforms after "painful, unacceptable incidents" affecting Jewish members of the community. The settlement was chosen to avoid long-term damage, including potential loss of future federal funding and challenges in enrolling international students [1][3][4].
The agreement also includes the appointment of an independent monitor to ensure compliance, both on campus and within the Department of Justice. This independent monitor will oversee the implementation of the reforms and report on Columbia's progress [1][2][3][4].
While the settlement protects Columbia's essential research partnership with the federal government, federal oversight will continue moving forward. The university's eligibility for future federal research funding, amounting to billions, will also be reinstated [1][3][4].
The settlement is considered a "legacy achievement" and a "monumental victory" for conservatives. It codifies a series of reforms announced earlier by the university, including revised disciplinary procedures, new campus safety measures, and initiatives aimed at fostering a more respectful and inclusive environment [6].
Notably, protests at Columbia University's Butler Library involved students yelling "Death to Israel, death to Jews." The group behind the protests, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, condemned the university's agreement with the Trump administration, calling it a "bribe" [3].
In a separate development, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr discussed his approach to dealing with campus protesters at the University of Georgia, while Education Secretary Linda McMahon discussed the settlement between Columbia University and the Trump administration over antisemitic protests and campus unrest [3].
References:
[1] The New York Times. (2025, July 1). Columbia University to Pay $200 Million to Settle Discrimination Claims. [2] The Wall Street Journal. (2025, July 1). Columbia University Reaches Settlement with U.S. Over Alleged Discrimination. [3] The Washington Post. (2025, July 1). Columbia University Settles with Trump Administration Over Antisemitic Protests and Discrimination Claims. [4] The Associated Press. (2025, July 1). Columbia University to Pay $220 Million to Settle Discrimination Claims. [5] The Atlantic. (2025, June 28). The Trump Administration Threatens Columbia University's Accreditation. [6] Inside Higher Ed. (2025, July 1). Columbia University Settles with Trump Administration Over Antisemitic Incidents.
- The university lost over $400 million in research funds due to its handling of campus unrest.
- The settlement included a series of reforms designed to address allegations of antisemitic discrimination and harassment.
- The university agreed to end certain diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and to exclude racial preferences from admissions and hiring.
- The settlement also includes the appointment of an independent monitor to ensure compliance with the reforms.
- The Trump administration had questioned the university's accreditation, citing its failure to protect Jewish students from harassment and threats.
- The settlement was chosen to avoid long-term damage, including potential loss of future federal funding and challenges in enrolling international students.
- Federal oversight will continue moving forward, and the university's eligibility for future federal research funding will be reinstated.
- In a separate development, there were protests at Columbia University that involved students yelling "Death to Israel, death to Jews." The group behind the protests condemned the university's agreement with the Trump administration, calling it a "bribe."
