Columbia University's head steps down after concessions made in feud with Trump over funds

Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, has stepped down just one week after the university made major concessions in a heated battle with the Trump administration over its federal funding.

The U.S. government recently revoked $400 million in federal funding for Columbia and threatened to withhold billions more, accusing the university of failing to combat antisemitism and ensure student safety following last year’s pro-Palestinian campus protests.

Columbia’s Board of Trustees appointed Co-Chair Claire Shipman as acting president while a search for a permanent replacement begins. The university did not specify a reason for Armstrong’s departure, but she will return to lead Columbia’s Irving Medical Center.

“I assume this role with a clear understanding of the serious challenges before us,” Shipman said in a statement, vowing to work urgently with faculty to implement reforms and uphold academic freedom.

Federal pressure and campus backlash

Columbia’s recent concessions—aimed at regaining its lost funding—have sparked fierce criticism, with some accusing the university of bowing to government pressure at the expense of free speech and academic independence.

Tensions have escalated further with a lawsuit filed Tuesday by groups representing Columbia professors. The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s push for tighter campus protest rules and external oversight of Columbia’s Middle Eastern studies department.

The university became a flashpoint for nationwide demonstrations in 2024, as students protested Israel’s military actions in Gaza and called for divestment from companies linked to Israel. While rights groups warned of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia during the protests, the federal government has taken an aggressive stance against pro-Palestinian activism on campuses.

Broader crackdown on universities

Columbia is not alone in facing federal scrutiny. President Donald Trump has warned other universities they could also lose funding over similar protests.

The crackdown has extended beyond academic policies, with federal authorities recently detaining Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student, as part of a broader effort to curb foreign pro-Palestinian activists.

Meanwhile, Harvard University is also seeing shifts in leadership. The New York Times reported Friday that two key figures from its Center for Middle Eastern Studies—director Cemal Kafadar and associate director Rosie Bsheer—are stepping down. Harvard has not commented on the departures.

As Columbia navigates its leadership crisis and legal battle, the broader debate over academic freedom, campus protests, and government intervention continues to intensify.