FROM INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION: CU’s acting president Claire Shipman: “This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,” Shipman said. “The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track. Importantly, it safeguards our independence, a critical condition for academic excellence and scholarly exploration, work that is vital to the public interest.”

Others drew a different perspective. Columbia professor Alex Hertel-Fernandez wrote in a post on Bluesky: “It is heartbreaking to see Columbia capitulating to the Trump Administration’s attacks on higher education and democracy. Not only does this legitimize the offensive against civil society and pressure other universities to fold, but it feels like madness to trust the Administration to keep a deal.”