Columbia has agreed to Trump's demands. What's next for American colleges?

George Petras , Ramon Padilla Paste BN

Columbia University’s agreement with the Trump administration to change campus policies – and pay a $221 million fine – is unprecedented in the history of American higher education, Paste BN has reported.

In return, $400 million in federal funds will be restored to Columbia. But the pact, announced July 23, may only be the beginning for U.S. colleges, according to the administration.

Closer look: Details of Columbia settlement

Learn more: How other colleges are dealing with pressure.

“It is our hope that this is going to be a template for other universities around the country,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social in announcing the settlement.

A number of high-profile universities have had federal money withheld while being investigated by the administration.

Which colleges have been targeted?

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The administration is investigating a number of U.S. universities, including high-profile institutions like Harvard, on accusations that include antisemitism amid protests of the war in Gaza after Hamas invaded Israel in 2023. Those investigations have been going on since March. They include:

Columbia University

Accusation: Jewish students weren’t protected from antisemitism and discrimination.
When: March 2025. A settlement was announced July 23.
Columbia will pay: $221 million in legal settlements.
Columbia will get: $400 million in federal funds reinstated.

University of Pennsylvania

Accusation: Violating administration policy on transgender athletes.
When: March 2025
Penn could have lost: $175 million in federal funds had been suspended.
Status: Funding was restored in July 2025 after Penn apologized and changed its policy.

Brown University

Accusation: Failing to stem antisemitism on campus.
When: April 2025
Brown may lose: Administration has paused $510 million in federal contracts and grants.
Status: Pending

Cornell University

Accusation: Failing to protect civil rights and failing to restrain antisemitism and racial discrimination.
When? April 2025
Cornell may lose: $1 billion in federal funding has been halted.
Status: Pending

Northwestern

Accusation: Failing to protect civil rights and fight antisemitism and racial discrimination.
When? April 2025
Northwestern could lose: $790 million in federal funding has been halted.
Status: Pending

Princeton University

Accusation? Failing to restrain antisemitism on campus.
When? April 2025
Princeton could lose: Nearly $210 million in federal research grants have been suspended.
Status: Pending

Harvard

Accusation: Failing to fight antisemitism on campus.
When? June 2025
Harvard may lose: $2.6 billion in federal grants.
Status: Harvard is appealing in federal court.

New investigations announced

Additional investigations by the State Department and the Department of Education were reported on July 23.

The State Department is investigating whether Harvard is still eligible to be a sponsor for the Exchange Visitor Program.

The Education Department said it will investigate whether five universities that have scholarships specified for undocumented students are discriminating against those born in the United States.

The universities are:

University of Louisville
University of Nebraska, Omaha
University of Miami
University of Michigan
Western Michigan University

The administration has accused elite universities of antisemitism and ideological indoctrination, according to The New York Times. But it has made no secret of its disdain for many universities, especially the richest and most selective ones.

CONTRIBUTING Zachary Schermele and George Petras

SOURCE Paste BN Network reporting and research; Reuters; Center for American Progress; doge.gov

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