Columbia University on the cusp of a deal with Trump administration, paying millions to unlock federal funding

Source: CNN Politics

Published 1:55 PM EDT, Sat July 12, 2025


CNN — Columbia University is on the verge of striking an agreement with the Trump administration following months of negotiation to restore federal funding to the school, according to two sources familiar with the deal.

Columbia is expected to pay a multimillion-dollar settlement to victims of alleged civil rights violations, implement changes to its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, boost transparency about hiring and admissions efforts, and take other steps to improve security and safety on campus for Jewish students, according to one source familiar with the matter.

In return, the source said, the school will regain access to over $400 million in federal funding the Trump administration stripped earlier this year. Trump administration officials and officials from Columbia are expected to meet next week at the White House, the source said. The deal has not been finalized and remains subject to change.

The administration believes the deal, the terms of which were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, could serve as a blueprint for other schools. A second source familiar with the matter noted the Trump administration has been approaching its negotiations with universities, including Columbia and Harvard University, with a framework of the schools paying a financial penalty. The exact dollar amount is unclear, though it varies by school.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/12/politics/columbia-university-deal-trump-funding