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Trump’s administration accused of unprecedented attack on U.S. universities
A recent financial settlement between Columbia University and the U.S. federal government has sparked widespread concern among legal and academic experts, who are calling it a dangerous precedent in what they describe as an “authoritarian attack” on higher education by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Columbia University agreed in late July to pay $221 million to end federal investigations launched in response to the university’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in 2024. The Trump administration had accused Columbia, along with other institutions, of fostering antisemitism for allowing such protests against the war in Gaza.
“This is part of a broader authoritarian attack on civil society,” said David Pozen, a constitutional law professor at Columbia. “We are seeing the same pressure tactics used against universities, the press, and even lawyers.”
Critics argue that the Trump administration’s approach threatens academic freedom and sets a worrying precedent for how dissent and political activism are treated on campuses. They see the crackdown as part of a larger strategy to control narratives in public discourse, particularly those challenging U.S. foreign policy or showing solidarity with marginalized voices.
Despite the settlement, experts say the implications will linger. “This wasn’t just about Columbia,” said Pozen. “It’s about reshaping the boundaries of free expression in higher education under the guise of national security or anti-discrimination.”