Columbia University’s interim president resigns amid policy changes

New Delhi, Mar 29: Columbia University’s interim president has stepped down just a week after the university agreed to implement policy changes in response to orders from the Trump administration. Katrina Armstrong, who had led the institution since August, will return to her previous role at Columbia’s medical centre, the university announced on Friday. She will be succeeded by Claire Shipman, co-chair of the board of trustees, who will serve as acting president.

The resignation comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for Columbia, which has faced criticism from President Donald Trump over its handling of campus protests and allegations of antisemitism. The administration has threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding, citing concerns about the treatment of Jewish students. Columbia recently agreed to new regulations, including restrictions on face coverings at protests and changes in academic oversight, in an effort to retain federal support. However, legal challenges to the funding cuts are already underway. Columbia was a focal point of last year’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations against the war in Gaza and US support for Israel, drawing national attention.

The Trump administration has since warned 60 universities that they risk losing federal funding if they fail to address allegations of antisemitism on their campuses.

The resignation also follows the recent arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and activist, by federal immigration authorities. Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the U.S., faces deportation due to his involvement in the 2024 campus protests. The administration has accused him and other activists of supporting Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. government. His lawyers argue that he was exercising his constitutional right to free speech and have condemned the government’s actions as an attempt to suppress student activism.

As Shipman steps into the role of acting president, she has pledged to address the university’s ongoing challenges while protecting academic freedom and student rights.