President Donald Trump announced a sweeping $220 million settlement with Columbia University on Wednesday night, marking one of the most significant blows yet to the campus DEI regime and setting a national precedent for federal action against woke academic institutions.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump revealed that Columbia would pay $200 million in penalties to the federal government and an additional $20 million in compensation to Jewish faculty and staff who were harassed or targeted amid recent anti-Israel protests on campus.
“I am pleased to announce that the Trump Administration has reached a historic agreement with Columbia University,” Trump wrote. “Columbia has agreed to pay a penalty of $200 Million Dollars to the United States Government for violating Federal Law, in addition to over $20 Million to their Jewish employees who were unlawfully targeted and harassed. Columbia has also committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus.”
The settlement follows months of federal investigation into Columbia’s use of federal funds, alleged discrimination, and failure to maintain campus order during chaotic and sometimes violent pro-Hamas demonstrations. The university’s reputation took a hit this spring as Jewish students reported being harassed, locked out of buildings, and threatened on campus.
As part of the settlement, the university is permanently banned from maintaining DEI programs that promote race-based quotas or preferences. Admissions must now be based strictly on merit, without using “diversity statements” or other racial proxies. Columbia must also submit annual admissions and hiring reports that detail racial demographics, GPA scores, and standardized testing data to ensure full compliance with the new guidelines.
Hiring decisions across the entire university must also be made based on academic and professional merit, without regard to race or gender. The university is required to maintain sex-specific spaces for women, including housing, athletics, and locker room facilities.
“This is a big deal. It’s the beginning of the end for the radical social engineering in higher education,” a senior administration official said. “No more taxpayer money for institutions that discriminate based on race, promote antisemitism, or let chaos reign on campus.”
Trump praised Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon, who helped oversee the enforcement process, and thanked Columbia for “doing the right thing.”
“I look forward to watching them have a great future in our Country — maybe greater than ever before!” he added.
While Columbia did not admit guilt, the university acknowledged in its own statement that Jewish students and faculty had endured “painful, unacceptable incidents.” Acting President Claire Shipman described the agreement as a step toward restoring stability and resuming normal relations with the federal government.
“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,” Shipman said. “The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track.”
The landmark deal comes just days after Columbia suspended or expelled more than 70 students for storming university buildings during anti-Israel protests. With the federal government now watching closely, other universities are reportedly scrambling to review their own DEI and admissions policies.
Trump hinted that Columbia won’t be the last elite institution to face consequences. “Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming,” he warned.
With this settlement, the Trump administration has drawn a clear line in the sand: obey the law, protect civil rights — or lose access to billions in taxpayer funds.
The post Columbia University Retreats As Trump Scores ‘Historic’ $220M Settlement appeared first on Real News Now.
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