Columbia University – Settlement with Federal Government

Summary

On July 23, 2025, Columbia University reached an agreement with the federal government to resolve investigations into alleged civil rights violations related to campus antisemitism and to restore most of its federal research funding. Columbia agreed to pay $200 million to the federal government over three years and $21 million to create a class settlement fund for employees who experienced harassment based on Jewish faith, Jewish ancestry, or Israeli national origin. The university did not admit liability. As part of the agreement, Columbia retained control over its academic and administrative decisions, accepted an independent monitor to assess compliance, and committed to institutional reforms including enhanced reporting, training, and adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. Previously withheld research grants totaling roughly $400 million from multiple federal agencies were reinstated, allowing ongoing projects to continue and restoring eligibility for new federal funding.

The federal action began with formal complaints and investigations in 2024 and 2025. In June 2024, the EEOC acting chair filed a Commissioner’s Charge on behalf of a class of Jewish employees, alleging a pattern of harassment in violation of Title VII. That complaint triggered an EEOC investigation into alleged hostile work environment conditions for Jewish faculty, staff, and student employees. Parallel investigations by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Education examined whether Columbia violated Title VI by showing deliberate indifference to harassment of Jewish students during campus protests and occupations following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. In May 2025, federal authorities issued a Notice of Violation finding Columbia had violated Title VI by failing to address a hostile environment for Jewish students. In response, Columbia implemented multiple reforms, including changes to disciplinary processes and clarification of protest policies. These rules required individuals engaging in protests or demonstrations to present university identification when asked and prohibited face coverings used to conceal identity during protest-related violations, with exceptions for medical or religious reasons. Refusal to comply could result in discipline or removal from campus. Columbia also added Special Patrol Officers with training in conflict de-escalation and adjusted oversight of disciplinary bodies to enforce the revised rules. These policy changes generated discussion on campus and beyond about how identification and mask requirements interact with rights to expression and safety.

Columbia’s case occurred within a broader national context of federal enforcement linked to campus antisemitism and civil rights compliance. Other institutions, including Barnard College, reached agreements with federal authorities in 2025 to address similar concerns, often involving appointing compliance coordinators, adopting training programs, and revising policies. After the July settlement, Columbia opened a claims process under the $21 million EEOC fund for current and former employees who believed they experienced harassment from October 7, 2023 through July 23, 2025.