Columbia University yields to Trump admin demands over revoked $400M in federal funding

Columbia University has caved in to demands from the Trump administration in an effort to restore $400 million in federal funding that was yanked over how the school addresses antisemitism on campus.

The Ivy League school agreed to ban masks for the purpose of concealing identity, empower 36 campus police officers with new powers to arrest students and appoint a senior vice provost with broad authority to oversee the department of Middle East, South Asian and African Studies, as well as the Center for Palestine Studies. 

Sources familiar with the negotiations told Fox News that meeting the demands doesn’t mean that Columbia will get their $400 million in funding back, but that it’s just a precondition to opening talks.

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In a letter, Katrina Armstrong, Columbia’s interim president, said the agreement “outlines the substantive work” the university has done over the past academic year. 

“The way Columbia and Columbians have been portrayed is hard to reckon with. We have challenges, yes, but they do not define us,” she said. “We teach the brightest, most creative students in the world, and we care deeply for each and every one of them. I have every faith in our ability to overcome the greatest of challenges. We stand resilient and brilliant.”

Columbia became the epicenter of anti-Israel protests following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Students, outsiders and faculty members voiced opposition to Israel during the demonstrations that, at times, resulted in clashes with police and the taking over of campus buildings. 

Meanwhile, Jewish students voiced concerns about antisemitism on the New York City campus, as well as harassment and the disruption of classes and events by protestors. 

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Earlier this month, the Trump administration revoked $400 million in grants and contracts from the school over its failure to address antisemitism on the campus.

“Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses – only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon said at the time. 

“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding,” she added. “For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the university.