Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, has resigned just one week after the university agreed to policy changes demanded by the Trump administration. Armstrong, who took over in August after former president Minouche Shafik’s departure, stepped down effective immediately. She will return to her previous role leading Columbia’s medical center.
Board of Trustees co-chair Claire Shipman has been appointed acting president. Shipman, a journalist and former broadcaster, acknowledged the university’s challenges, stating she would work urgently to implement reforms while protecting academic freedom.
Trump Administration Pressure
Columbia has been at the center of controversy over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus. President Trump has accused the university of tolerating antisemitism and threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding.
The university recently agreed to nine demands from the administration, including a ban on face masks at protests and increased oversight of academic programs. However, it remains unclear if the frozen funds will be reinstated. Some faculty members have filed a lawsuit over the funding cuts.
Immigration Crackdown and Student Protests
Armstrong’s resignation comes as the Trump administration targets student activists linked to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident, was detained by immigration authorities and faces deportation. Other students have had their visas revoked over alleged “pro-Hamas” sentiments.
The Department of Homeland Security has also confirmed the presence of federal agents on Columbia’s campus, heightening tensions between the administration and student activists.
Ongoing Federal Investigations
Columbia remains under multiple federal investigations related to its handling of campus activism. Armstrong is the fourth Ivy League president to resign under Republican pressure in the past year, following leadership changes at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.
As the situation unfolds, Columbia faces ongoing scrutiny from both federal authorities and student activists, shaping the future of free speech and protest policies on college campuses.