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Columbia University Moves Closer to Restoring $400M Federal Funding

Education Secretary Linda McMahon says Columbia's recent policy changes address federal concerns about antisemitism and campus safety, but final negotiations are ongoing.

An entrance to Columbia University in New York, US, on Friday, March 7, 2025. The Trump Administration said it is canceling $400 million of federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing civil rights complaints against the Ivy League school by Jewish students.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Tierney Cross/File Photo
FILE - Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
Police use a special vehicle to enter Hamilton Hall, which protesters occupied, as other officers enter the campus of Columbia University in New York on April 30, 2024.

Overview

  • The Trump administration froze $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University in early March 2025, citing the university's handling of antisemitism and pro-Palestinian protests.
  • Columbia has agreed to nine federal demands, including banning masks during protests, appointing a senior vice provost to oversee the Middle East studies department, and expanding intellectual diversity in course offerings.
  • Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that Columbia is 'on the right track' toward regaining the funding but stopped short of confirming its restoration.
  • The university's compliance has drawn criticism from faculty and free speech advocates, who argue the measures threaten academic freedom and free expression.
  • Interim President Katrina Armstrong emphasized that the university's actions reflect ongoing efforts to ensure campus safety and inclusivity, not solely a response to federal pressure.