Overview

• The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on March 25, 2025.
• The lawsuit alleges that withholding $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University violates Title VI anti-discrimination laws and undermines academic autonomy.
• Columbia University complied with federal demands, including banning masks during protests, empowering campus police with arrest powers, and placing certain departments under oversight, but funding remains frozen.
• The lawsuit seeks to reinstate all federal funding to Columbia and prevent further cuts, arguing the administration's actions are coercive and unconstitutional.
• Negotiations between Columbia and the administration are ongoing, but sources indicate compliance alone does not guarantee the restoration of funding.