The Trump administration is preparing to push Columbia University into a consent decree—a rare and aggressive legal step that would place the school under court supervision and dramatically increase federal oversight as part of an ongoing battle over alleged civil rights violations related to antisemitism, according to people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported.
What a consent decree would mean
A consent decree, if implemented, would require Columbia to make specific institutional changes under the watch of a federal judge. Noncompliance could result in contempt-of-court charges, including fines. While federal civil rights disputes in higher education are typically resolved through voluntary agreements, which lack enforceability, a consent decree is a legally binding mechanism rarely used in this sector.
“This is the classic between a rock and a hard place,” said Armand Alacbay, of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. A spokesperson for Columbia confirmed that “the university remains in active dialogue with the federal government to restore its critical research funding.”
Federal funding and legal leverage
The threat comes as Columbia tries to restore $400 million in federal research grants and contracts that were cancelled last month amid mounting concerns about antisemitism on campus. While the university initially agreed to certain federal demands, the Justice Department’s antisemitism task force now believes a consent decree is necessary, citing doubts about Columbia’s willingness to implement significant reforms.
A consent decree would require Columbia’s agreement. If the university resists, the Justice Department would need to prove in court that the move is justified—a lengthy process that could risk continued loss of federal funding and open the university to intense legal scrutiny, including depositions and public hearings.
Historic and political implications
This would mark an unprecedented use of a consent decree in higher education for civil rights enforcement. While similar mechanisms have been applied in cases such as police reform or corporate antitrust oversight—like the Live Nation merger—the scope and implications for a university are far-reaching. Historian John Thelin called the Trump administration’s strategy “unprecedented in its expansiveness.”
The federal antisemitism task force, led in part by Justice Department lawyers, is spearheading the move, reportedly convinced that Columbia has failed to protect Jewish students and is not engaging in good-faith efforts to resolve campus tensions. During a recent deposition, former interim president Katrina Armstrong was questioned for three hours about her handling of antisemitism on campus, with one task force member reportedly expressing frustration over her answers.
A high-stakes standoff for academia
Columbia now faces a consequential decision: accept a legally binding settlement that could reshape its campus governance and public reputation, or enter into a protracted legal battle that could cost it dearly in funding and prestige.
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