Trump secures $221M Columbia University settlement over alleged civil rights violations

President Donald Trump has secured a $221 million settlement with Columbia University to resolve multiple federal civil rights investigations.

The deal includes $200 million over three years for alleged discriminatory practices and $21 million to settle claims of antisemitic employment discrimination against Jewish faculty after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel.

The White House called it the largest antisemitism-related settlement in U.S. history; Columbia confirmed the dollar amounts, but did not characterize the deal that way.

The agreement restores billions in federal research funding and imposes oversight through an independent monitor. Columbia has agreed to reform, including enhanced campus protest rules and changing disciplinary authority from faculty to administrators.

"The Trump Administration's deal with Columbia University is a seismic shift in our nation’s fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "For decades, the American public has watched in horror as our elite campuses have been overrun by anti-western teachings and a leftist groupthink that restricts speech and debate to push a one-sided view of our nation and the world.

"These dangerous trends fueled the outbreak of violent antisemitism that paralyzed campuses after the October 7th massacre and was previously unthinkable in the United States of America."

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Columbia confirmed that most of its suspended federal grants will be reinstated, including those from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health and Human Services. The university noted that a portion of funding not restored reflects unrelated federal cuts in specific research areas.

The agreement also codifies reforms Columbia announced earlier this year, including changes to campus safety, enhanced training programs, and new reporting mechanisms. It further includes the appointment of Title VI and Title VII coordinators, as well as additional commitments made in July, most notably, the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

Columbia’s public statement does not acknowledge White House claims that the university will review international student admissions or Middle East programs or share admissions process data.

The university's Jewish student life organization, Columbia/Barnard Hillel, said the settlement represents a major step in the right direction.

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"This announcement is an important recognition of what Jewish students and their families have expressed with increasing urgency: antisemitism at Columbia is real, and it has had a tangible impact on Jewish students’ sense of safety and belonging and, in turn, their civil rights," Lavine Family Executive Director Brian Cohen said in a statement. "Acknowledging this fact is essential, and along with the new path laid out by the President and Trustees, I am hopeful that today’s agreement marks the beginning of real, sustained change.

"In the months ahead, Columbia/Barnard Hillel will continue our work with the administration, faculty, students, and alumni to strengthen Jewish life at Columbia including making sure that the roadmap laid out in this agreement is followed."

Acting President Claire Shipman said the settlement safeguards academic independence and allows essential research to resume.

Columbia admitted no wrongdoing but acknowledged the need for reform after "painful, unacceptable incidents" affecting Jewish students and faculty.

Columbia’s public statement does not mention several claims made by the White House, including a mandated review of Middle East programming and new data-sharing requirements tied to international student admissions."This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," Shipman said. "The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track. Importantly, it safeguards our independence, a critical condition for academic excellence and scholarly exploration, work that is vital to the public interest."

The White House also cited provisions related to women’s sports and campus safety not mentioned in Columbia’s statement.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's additional request for comment.The full Columbia statement can be found here.