Power Grab/Fire anyone who can stop him
Columbia pays $221 million to restore its frozen federal funding while Harvard sues
Columbia signed a resolution agreement on July 23, 2025 and admitted no wrongdoing. Harvard, facing a freeze of more than $2.2 billion, litigated and won in district court.
What happened
In spring 2025, the administration froze $400 million in grants and put most of Columbia University’s $1.3 billion a year in federal funding on hold over antisemitism complaints. After months of negotiation, Columbia signed a resolution agreement on July 23, 2025.
Columbia agreed to pay $200 million to the government over three years and $21 million to settle EEOC harassment charges. It agreed to follow federal anti-discrimination law in admissions and hiring, share admissions data and accept an independent monitor. Most terminated NIH and HHS grants were restored.
Harvard sued instead. Judge Allison Burroughs ruled the cuts unlawful on September 3, 2025, and funding resumed. The government’s appeal was argued on October 5, 2026. Columbia’s agreement stated it was not an admission of liability.
Who benefited
The administration collected $221 million and a signed template it could present to other universities. It secured changes on hiring, diversity programs and antisemitism definitions that it could not have imposed by regulation, with a monitor to enforce them.
Who wanted something
The White House and the Education, Health and Justice departments used the funding freeze as leverage, treating Title VI civil-rights enforcement as the vehicle. Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, accepted the terms to restore research funding and said the deal preserved academic independence.
Who lost out
Columbia’s researchers and students lost months of funding, and the university paid $221 million. The American Association of University Professors called the deal a devastating blow to academic freedom. Universities nationwide learned that federal grants can be withheld to force governance changes.
Why it matters
Federal research funding was used to extract payment and policy concessions without any adjudicated finding of wrongdoing. Columbia’s settlement and Harvard’s lawsuit became the two paths open to institutions the administration targeted. One paid $221 million, and the other won in court.
Sources Columbia University (primary)Columbia University, Office of the President (primary)NPRAssociated Press (via Boston.com)