Columbia University might pay hundreds of millions to settle allegations with the Trump administration, according to the New York Times. The allegations claim Columbia did not protect Jewish students from harassment.
Officials from the university are set to meet President Donald Trump next weekend to finalize the agreement. The deal aims to restore $400 million in federal research funding that Trump had cut.
In exchange, Columbia will pay compensation for alleged civil rights violations and promise transparency on admissions and foreign donations. However, the deal does not include a consent decree for federal control over the university.
Columbia might end up paying $200 million or more. University officials met last Sunday to talk about the deal’s terms. Trump adviser Stephen Miller is leading the negotiations from the White House.
“The university is focused on advancing the discussions with the federal government. There is no resolution at this time,” said Virginia Lam Abrams, a spokesperson for Columbia.
Columbia has been trying to address the government’s issues since March when the $400 million research funding was canceled. Columbia allowed campus police to arrest students, restricted mask use at protests, and gained more control over its Middle Eastern studies department.
The university’s negotiating approach with Trump was criticized, unlike Harvard’s decision to sue. Some accused Columbia of giving in.
However, Claire Shipman, Columbia’s acting president, defended their strategy by writing, “Following the law and attempting to resolve a complaint is not capitulation.”
Harvard has also started talks with the Trump administration about the huge funding cuts. Columbia was the first university targeted by the Trump administration, with Harvard, Cornell, and Northwestern following.
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