Columbia University has agreed to a series of policy changes mandated by the Trump administration to restore $400 million in federal funding. The funding was revoked amid allegations that the university tolerated antisemitism on campus.
The university outlined its agreement in a memo released just hours before a government-imposed deadline. The changes include banning face masks on campus, authorizing security officers to remove or arrest individuals, and shifting oversight of the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department from faculty control to a newly appointed official.
The federal government has warned at least 60 other universities of potential action for alleged violations of civil rights laws related to antisemitism. Columbia’s compliance is being closely watched by higher education institutions nationwide as the administration enforces policies on campus protests, transgender sports, and diversity initiatives.
One of the most contested demands involves appointing a senior administrator to oversee curriculum and faculty appointments in Middle East studies. The measure has sparked concerns among professors at Columbia and beyond, who argue that government intervention in academic affairs could set a dangerous precedent.
Republican lawmakers previously criticized at least two professors of Palestinian descent for their comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The university has also hired three dozen special officers with arrest authority and revised its anti-discrimination policies to strengthen its ability to sanction campus organizations.
The administration’s new policies prohibit face coverings used to conceal identities, and protesters are now required to identify themselves when asked. Additionally, Columbia plans to hire faculty members to promote “intellectual diversity,” including joint positions at the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and the School of International and Public Affairs.
The loss of federal funding has already disrupted critical medical and scientific research at Columbia, researchers said. The university’s compliance with the administration’s demands is expected to influence policy decisions at other academic institutions facing similar scrutiny.
