Columbia University Agrees to Trump Administration’s Demands to Restore $400 Million in Federal Funding

Columbia University has agreed to implement several security and policy changes after the Trump administration withdrew approximately $400 million in federal grants over allegations of antisemitism on campus. The university outlined the agreement in a memo shared on Friday, following weeks of negotiations.

What happened?

The Trump administration had accused Columbia of failing to address the harassment of Jewish students and imposed funding cuts earlier this month. The decision had serious financial consequences for the university, leading to job losses and widespread anxiety among faculty and students.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Columbia has now agreed to some of the administration’s demands, allowing formal negotiations to proceed regarding the reinstatement of federal funding.

A look at what Columbia agreed to

As part of the agreement, the university will:

Hire three dozen additional campus police officers with the authority to arrest students.

Require individuals wearing face masks or coverings during protests to present university identification if asked.

Appoint a new senior vice provost to oversee the Department of Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies, as well as the Center for Palestine Studies.

These measures align with some of the nine demands the administration had set as preconditions for reinstating federal funds. Other demands included banning masks at protests, shifting disciplinary authority over students to the university president, and allowing campus law enforcement to arrest "agitators."

Columbia’s response

Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, addressed students in a letter on Friday, defending the university’s response.

"Our work remains focused on making every student, faculty, and staff member safe and welcome on our campus," Armstrong wrote. She also acknowledged the controversy surrounding the university, stating, "The way Columbia and Columbians have been portrayed is hard to reckon with. We have challenges, yes, but they do not define us."

Why it matters

The Trump administration’s crackdown on higher education institutions over issues like antisemitism and campus protests has had broad financial and reputational consequences for universities. Columbia, in particular, became a focal point for national debates after hosting large-scale student protests against the Israel-Hamas war last year.

Earlier this month, the university announced disciplinary actions against students involved in occupying a campus building during those protests. The administration’s decision to cut funding was widely seen as a direct response to Columbia’s handling of such demonstrations.

With these new measures in place, Columbia hopes to restore its lost federal funding and move forward from what has been a turbulent period for the institution.