Columbia University has agreed to implement certain changes demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration as a prerequisite for negotiating the reinstatement of federal funding that was revoked earlier this month over claims that the university tolerated antisemitism on its campus.
The Ivy League institution in New York City conceded to several government conditions, outlined in a 4,000-word message from its interim president released on Friday. The statement detailed reforms in the university’s disciplinary policies, the hiring of security personnel with arrest powers, and the appointment of a new official tasked with reviewing departments offering courses on the Middle East.
Columbia’s significant concessions to the administration’s extraordinary requirements—rooted in campus protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict—sparked immediate backlash. The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications, as at least 60 other universities have been cautioned by the Trump administration about similar actions.
One of the most pressing issues for Columbia was the fate of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department. The loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants and contracts, which legal and civil rights organizations have called unconstitutional, placed immense pressure on the institution. The Trump administration had insisted that the department be placed under academic receivership for a minimum of five years, stripping its faculty of control.
Academic receivership, an uncommon measure used to address dysfunctional departments, involves appointing an external professor or administrator to take over leadership.
Columbia’s message on Friday did not directly mention receivership. Instead, the university announced plans to appoint a senior administrator to evaluate leadership and maintain balance in the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department, the Middle East Institute, the Center for Palestine Studies, the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, and other programs related to the Middle East. The review will also extend to Columbia’s satellite hubs in Tel Aviv and Amman.
‘A Dangerous Precedent’
Jonathan Zimmerman, a historian of education at the University of Pennsylvania and a self-proclaimed “proud” Columbia alumnus, expressed dismay at the situation.
“This is historically unprecedented,” Zimmerman stated. “The government is using financial leverage as a tool to interfere with university governance.”
Todd Wolfson, a Rutgers University professor and president of the American Association of University Professors, described the administration’s demands as “possibly the most significant intrusion into academic freedom, free speech, and institutional independence since the McCarthy era.”
“This sets a terrible precedent,” Wolfson added. “Every academic faculty member in the country is outraged by Columbia University’s failure to resist this pressure.”
In an email addressed to the entire campus community, Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, stated that her main priorities were “to uphold the university’s mission, ensure uninterrupted academic operations, and create a safe and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff.”
Mohammad Hemeida, an undergraduate student and chair of Columbia’s Student Governing Board, criticized the university’s actions, arguing that it should have sought more input from students and faculty.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that Columbia caved to government pressure instead of standing firm on its commitments to students and academic freedom—commitments they reinforced in almost daily emails to us,” Hemeida remarked.
The White House did not immediately respond to Columbia’s statement on Friday. According to the Trump administration, its demands—outlined in a letter to Armstrong eight days prior—must be met before Columbia can formally negotiate the restoration of federal funding.
Increased Authority for Campus Security
Columbia’s handling of the situation is being closely watched by other universities targeted by the administration as it pushes its policy agenda on issues ranging from campus demonstrations to transgender participation in sports and diversity initiatives.
Beyond academia, private firms, legal offices, and other organizations have also been threatened with funding cuts and business restrictions unless they align more closely with the administration’s priorities. On Friday, the high-profile Wall Street law firm Paul Weiss faced backlash over a deal it struck with the White House to avoid penalties under an executive order that threatened its operations.
Columbia has been under intense scrutiny due to last year’s pro-Palestinian student protests, which saw its campus filled with tent encampments and demonstrations condemning U.S. support for Israel.
Regarding some of the administration’s demands—such as enforcing stricter “time, place, and manner” rules for protests—the university asserted that these regulations were already in place.
In response to the administration’s call for campus security personnel with arrest powers, Columbia noted that it had already initiated the hiring process before the demand was issued. The university revealed that 36 newly hired peace officers were in the final stages of completing the extensive training and certification process required under New York law.
Columbia also addressed the issue of face masks, stating that individuals wearing them with the intent to violate university policies or laws would not be permitted to do so. However, the policy does not extend to face masks worn for medical or religious reasons. The university did not indicate whether it would comply with the administration’s request that all students and staff display their Columbia ID badges on their clothing.
Disruptions to Research
The abrupt suspension of millions of dollars in federal funding has already begun to disrupt critical medical and scientific research at Columbia, according to university researchers.
Projects affected by the funding halt include the development of an artificial intelligence tool designed to assist nurses in detecting early signs of patient deterioration in hospitals. Research on uterine fibroids—benign tumors that can cause pain and impact fertility—has also been stalled due to the funding freeze.
