The White House is demanding fines from several leading U.S. universities for failing to curb campus antisemitism. This move comes after Columbia University agreed to pay over $200 million in a settlement. The Trump administration says this step is part of a broader effort to hold institutions accountable. Officials are negotiating similar deals with other universities, including Harvard, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, and Brown. These schools have faced growing criticism over their response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
An administration official, speaking anonymously, said talks with Northwestern and Brown are close to completion. Agreements with Cornell are also progressing. However, Harvard, the nation’s wealthiest and oldest university, has taken a different approach. Instead of settling, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the federal government. The university seeks to restore its suspended grants through the courts rather than negotiations.
Columbia University’s settlement has become the model for how universities might resolve such disputes. The White House views the agreement as a success and a standard for future cases. Trump officials believe universities must face consequences for tolerating what they call radical and antisemitic activism. They claim the protests last year disrupted campuses and ignored the safety of Jewish students.
President Trump has made universities a major focus since returning to office in January. He accuses them of being dominated by left-wing ideologies. His administration is using federal funding as leverage to enforce change. They argue that public money should not support institutions that fail to uphold federal civil rights protections.
While some universities remain silent, others are resisting or cooperating behind closed doors. The administration says this effort is far from over. More schools could soon face similar demands as part of the broader crackdown. Trump’s team insists that stopping campus hate and restoring order is a national priority, especially when taxpayer money is at stake.