Columbia University Settles With Trump Administration
Democratic strategist James Kerrville criticized Columbia University for agreeing to a $221 million settlement with President Trump’s administration in exchange for restoring federal funds.
During a Thursday night segment on Fox News with Jesse Waters, Kerrville remarked, “You were talking about Paramount and how they collapsed. The biggest cave in the world is Columbia University.” He didn’t hold back, stating, “I have never seen such a coward in my life. My hat is headed for Harvard. At least they have the courage.”
According to a Wednesday announcement, Columbia University will pay $200 million to the federal government over the next three years, alongside an additional $21 million designated for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Claire Shipman, a representative for Columbia, commented, “The agreement marks significant progress after a period of federal scrutiny and sustained institutional uncertainty.” She added that the settlement was carefully designed to uphold the university’s values and facilitate a crucial research partnership with the federal government.
Earlier this year, Columbia lost $400 million in federal funding due to its refusal to comply with an investigation related to anti-Semitism allegations on its Ivy League campus. University officials have insisted that the settlement allows them to maintain academic independence.
President Trump expressed his approval of the deal, saying, “It’s a great honor to be involved. I would like to thank and congratulate Secretary Linda McMahon and all those who worked with us in this important deal. I also want to thank Columbia University and praise them for agreeing to do the right thing,” adding that he looks forward to a bright future for the university.
However, the settlement has faced criticism from some Democrats, including alumnus Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). He commented that Columbia “effectively abandoned the white flag of surrender at the heart of the Trump administration’s war on higher education and academic freedom,” suggesting that the university succumbed to the administration’s tactics.
