While some professors rallied to criticize the changes, federal officials called the university’s actions a “positive first step” in maintaining a financial relationship.
The Trump administration on Monday welcomed concessions by Columbia University to tighten disciplinary procedures and assert more control over academic departments in response to charges of antisemitism, saying the actions represent a “positive first step in the university maintaining a financial relationship with the United States government.”
Facing the loss of about $400 million in federal research funding, Columbia has pledged that masked demonstrators must show identification when asked, that protests will generally not be allowed in academic buildings and that several dozen public security officers will be empowered to make arrests. The Trump administration’s statement on Monday was its first extensive response to Columbia’s announcement about concessions three days earlier.
The changes are being made in response to Trump administration claims that antisemitism, particularly as a part of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, has been insufficiently checked on campus.
“Columbia is demonstrating appropriate cooperation with the Trump administration’s requirements, and we look forward to a lasting resolution,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. She added that she had been communicating with Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, during the last few weeks and that she appreciated “her leadership and commitment to advance truly meaningful reforms on campus.”
Still, the road to restoring funding is long. The Trump administration regards the actions Columbia has announced as a “precondition” to formal talks to restore canceled federal grants and contracts, which largely affect scientific and medical research.
“Columbia’s early steps are a positive sign, but they must continue to show that they are serious in their resolve to end antisemitism and protect all students and faculty on their campus through permanent and structural reform,” said Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, which is part of the General Services Administration, one of the agencies calling for changes at Columbia.
