Columbia University will be sending more than $220 million to Washington after striking a deal with the Trump administration to restore its federal research money.
The university committed to paying the federal government $200 million over three years, plus an additional $21 million to settle equal employment investigations. This agreement comes after federal funding was revoked last year over allegations that Columbia failed to address campus antisemitism during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Acting President Claire Shipman said, “This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty.”
Along with the financial settlement, Columbia agreed to overhaul its Middle East curriculum and bring in new staff to the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. The school will also have to report to an external monitor, ensuring that its programs steer clear of what the federal government described as “unlawful DEI goals.”
Push for Epstein Files Escalates in Congress
Elsewhere in Washington, the House Oversight Committee set a new course in the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers voted to subpoena the Justice Department for files tied to the Epstein sex trafficking probe, with members of both parties backing the effort before the start of the August congressional recess. The panel also issued a subpoena calling for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate now serving time in federal prison, to appear for questioning.
While the Justice Department said a review of Epstein-related files did not warrant further prosecution, pressure continues to mount in Congress for expanded disclosure, with calls for key officials like Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify on the Hill. According to news reports, Trump’s name appears in the files publicized by the government, though officials stressed this alone does not imply wrongdoing.
A federal judge in Florida firmly rejected a request to unseal old grand jury materials about Epstein, noting that none of the exceptions allowing such disclosure under federal law applied.
The recent developments reveal a broader appetite in Congress for transparency around Epstein’s case. In the words of Rep. Summer Lee, “If our colleagues on this committee don’t join us in this vote, then what they’re essentially doing is joining President Donald Trump in complicity.”
The controversy over Epstein continues to ripple through Washington, even as lawmakers leave town for their summer break, setting the stage for more heated debate when Congress returns.
