Columbia University to pay $200m in clash with Trump

COLUMBIA University said this week it will pay $200 million (R3.6 billion) to the US government after President Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding over what he said was its unwillingness to protect Jewish students.

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In a sweeping deal that will restore the prestigious New York institution's federal monies, Columbia has pledged to obey rules that bar it from taking race into consideration in admissions or hiring, among other concessions.

“Columbia University has reached an agreement with the US government to resolve multiple federal agency investigations into alleged violations of federal anti-discrimination laws,” a statement said, adding that the $200m would be paid over three years.

The university will also pay $21m to settle investigations brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it said.

“Under today’s agreement, a vast majority of the federal grants which were terminated or paused in March 2025 will be reinstated and Columbia's access to billions of dollars in current and future grants will be restored,’ the statement said.

The promise of the federal funding spigot reopening offers relief for the university, which was under growing financial pressure, despite a comfortable endowment and a reputation it can bank on.