Columbia University Agrees to Trump Administration Demands to Restore $400 Million in Funding
Columbia University has agreed to a series of changes demanded by the Trump administration as a condition for reinstating $400 million in federal funding that was withdrawn earlier this month. The funding was pulled amid allegations that the university tolerated anti-Semitism on its campus.
In a memo released on Friday, the New York-based institution outlined several measures it plans to implement, including banning certain face masks on campus, granting security officers enhanced authority to remove or arrest individuals, and appointing a new official to oversee departments offering Middle East studies courses.
One of the most contentious issues was the future of Columbia’s Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) department. The Trump administration had demanded that the department be placed under academic receivership for at least five years, effectively removing control from its faculty. Academic receivership is an extreme measure typically used by universities to address dysfunctional departments by appointing an external administrator.
While Columbia’s memo did not explicitly mention receivership, its proposed actions appeared to align with the administration’s demands. The university announced it would appoint a senior administrator to review curricula, faculty, and leadership within several departments to ensure balance and compliance.
The decision sparked criticism from academics and free speech advocates. Jonathan Zimmerman, an education historian at the University of Pennsylvania and a Columbia alumnus, called it a “sad day” for the university. “Historically, there is no precedent for this,” Zimmerman said. “The government is using money as a cudgel to micromanage a university.”
Todd Wolfson, a Rutgers University professor and president of the American Association of University Professors, described Trump’s demands as “arguably the greatest incursion into academic freedom, freedom of speech, and institutional autonomy since the McCarthy era.” He added, “It sets a terrible precedent. I know every academic faculty member in this country is angry about Columbia University’s inability to stand up to a bully.”
In a statement accompanying the memo, Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, said the changes were part of a broader effort to “advance our mission, ensure uninterrupted academic activities, and make every student, faculty, and staff member safe and welcome on our campus.”
As of Friday evening, the White House had not responded to Columbia’s memo, and the status of the funding remained unclear. The Trump administration had made its demands a precondition for entering negotiations over the restoration of federal grants.
Columbia’s response is being closely watched by other universities targeted by the administration, which has sought to advance its policy objectives in areas ranging from campus protests to transgender sports and diversity initiatives. Private companies, law firms, and other organizations have also faced pressure to align with Trump’s priorities or risk losing government funding and business.
**Campus Security and Policy Changes**
Among the changes outlined in the memo, Columbia has hired three dozen special officers with the authority to arrest individuals on campus. The university has also revised its anti-discrimination policies, including measures to sanction campus organizations that violate these policies.
The new rules prohibit face masks that conceal identities, except for medical or religious purposes. Protesters must now identify themselves when asked by authorities. Additionally, the university is seeking to hire new faculty members to “ensure intellectual diversity.”
Impact on Research and Academic Projects
The sudden withdrawal of federal funding has already disrupted critical medical and scientific research at Columbia. Cancelled projects include the development of an AI-based tool designed to help nurses detect patient health deterioration two days earlier than existing systems. Other affected initiatives include research on improving the safety of blood transfusion therapies for adults, children, and newborns, as well as studies on uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumors that can cause pain and affect women’s fertility.
Columbia’s decision to comply with the Trump administration’s demands has ignited a broader debate about academic freedom, government overreach, and the future of higher education in the United States.
