Columbia University may be poised to pay more than $200 million as part of a sweeping settlement with the Trump administration over accusations that the Ivy League institution failed to protect Jewish students from harassment, according to a report by The New York Times.
Negotiations between university officials and federal representatives have been underway for months, culminating in plans for Columbia leaders to meet with former President Donald Trump next weekend to finalise the agreement.
At the heart of the discussions is the potential restoration of some $400 million in federal research funding that the Trump administration previously revoked. In exchange, Columbia is expected to offer financial compensation related to alleged civil rights violations and commit to greater transparency in areas such as admissions and the disclosure of foreign donations. However, a proposed consent decree that would have granted the federal government long-term oversight of the university is reportedly off the table.
Talks have been steered by a team led by Trump adviser Stephen Miller from the White House. Columbia officials convened last Sunday to hash out the possible terms of the deal.
“The university is focused on advancing the discussions with the federal government. There is no resolution at this time,” Columbia spokesperson Virginia Lam Abrams said in a statement addressing the ongoing negotiations.
Columbia’s strategy has stood in sharp contrast to Harvard University, which chose litigation rather than negotiation in response to similar federal funding cuts. Some critics have accused Columbia of capitulating to political pressure, arguing the university compromised too quickly. Yet, in a letter to the Columbia community in June, acting President Claire Shipman defended the institution’s approach.
“Following the law and attempting to resolve a complaint is not capitulation,” she wrote.
Harvard, meanwhile, has also initiated discussions with the Trump administration, seeking to address its own funding challenges.
