Columbia University yields to Trump administration’s demands to restore $400M in federal funding

03/30/2025 / By Ava Grace

Columbia University has conceded to a series of sweeping demands from the Trump administration – including ending mask mandates; expanding campus police powers; and appointing a senior vice provost to oversee Middle East, South Asian and African Studies (MESAA) – following the suspension of federal grants over allegations of inadequate protection for Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests.
The Trump administration cited Columbia’s failure to address alleged antisemitism during protests after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel as the reason for withholding funding.
Faculty and students have criticized the heightened scrutiny of MESAA and other reforms, arguing they represent an unprecedented federal intrusion into academic independence and set a dangerous precedent for government influence over universities.
Beyond MESAA, the university has agreed to ban disruptive protests, require protester identification, review admissions for bias, adopt a specific definition of antisemitism and launch educational programming in Tel Aviv to promote intellectual diversity.
Columbia’s reliance on federal funding for critical research projects forced the decision, but the agreement has broader implications, with the Trump administration warning 60 other universities of similar scrutiny.

In a stunning turn of events, Columbia University has capitulated to a series of sweeping demands from the Trump administration in exchange for the restoration of $400 million in federal funding.

The move, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, marks a dramatic shift in the relationship between the federal government and one of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions. Earlier in March, the Trump administration suspended the institution’s federal grants.

The administration cited the university’s failure to adequately protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests that erupted in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. The protests, which included controversial slogans like “from the river to the sea,” were criticized by some as antisemitic and led to accusations that Columbia had turned a blind eye to harassment of Jewish students. (Related: Arrest of a Columbia University graduate participating in campus protests against Israel ignites widespread outrage online.)

In response, the university has agreed to a laundry list of demands – including ending mask mandates on campus and granting 36 campus police officers expanded arrest powers. It has also agreed to appoint a senior vice provost to oversee its Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAA) program. The new vice provost will have broad authority to review curriculum, faculty hiring and leadership to ensure “comprehensive and balanced” educational offerings.

The decision to place the MESAA program under heightened scrutiny has sparked outrage among faculty and students, who argue that it represents an alarming intrusion into academic independence. Critics warn that allowing the federal government to dictate how universities operate their academic departments sets a dangerous precedent.

However, Columbia officials have defended the move. According to them, the reforms are necessary to address legitimate concerns about antisemitism and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

Student groups condemn the deal

The university’s concessions go beyond the MESAA department. Columbia has also agreed to ban disruptive protests, require protesters to identify themselves and review its admissions process to ensure it is free from bias. Additionally, the university will adopt a specific definition of antisemitism and launch educational programming at its Tel Aviv hub to promote intellectual diversity.

Katrina Armstrong, Columbia’s interim president, has framed the agreement as a step toward “uninterrupted academic activities.” But not everyone within the university community shares her view, with many seeing it a surrender to federal pressure.

Student groups, including Columbia University Apartheid Divest, have condemned the deal, accusing the university of “selling out” its community to appease the Trump administration. Faculty members, particularly in the history department, have warned that such government interference threatens the very foundation of academic freedom.

The financial stakes for Columbia are undeniably high. Despite its $15 billion endowment, the university relies heavily on federal funding to support its research programs. The sudden loss of $400 million in grants has already disrupted critical projects, including the development of an AI tool to improve patient care and research on uterine fibroids. For Columbia, the choice was clear: comply or risk losing the resources that fuel its academic mission.

Head over to EducationSystem.news for more similar stories.

Watch this clip about colleges facing backlash and potentially losing funding over allegations of antisemitism on campus.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.