Overview

• The Trump administration is pursuing a consent decree to legally bind Columbia University to federal mandates on combating antisemitism, ensuring long-term compliance under judicial oversight.
• Columbia previously agreed to policy changes, including stricter protest regulations and academic oversight, to regain access to $400 million in frozen federal funding.
• Federal officials remain skeptical of Columbia's commitment to the reforms, prompting the push for a court-enforced agreement that could last years and include penalties for noncompliance.
• The consent decree would require Columbia's voluntary agreement, though the university risks further funding delays or legal battles if it resists the proposal.
• This move is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to influence university policies on antisemitism and campus protests through financial and legal pressure.