Columbia University interim pres steps down amid federal funding dispute with Trump admin

Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, has stepped down to be replaced with Claire Shipman, co-chair of the university’s board of trustees. The leadership change came just a week after the university agreed to comply with demands from the Trump administration, which had decided to withhold $400 million in federal funding over antisemitism concerns.

In an email on Friday, Columbia announced Armstrong’s departure and thanked her for leading during "a time of great uncertainty for the university." The statement added that Shipman has "a clear understanding of the serious challenges facing our community."

"Dr. Armstrong accepted the role of interim president at a time of great uncertainty for the university and worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our community,” said David Greenwald, chair of the board of trustees, in a statement on Friday. The university also confirmed Armstrong will remain as the head of Columbia’s medical center.

Shipman assumes the role of acting president amid growing scrutiny from the federal government, which has threatened to cut billions in funding to universities nationwide. Columbia has been a particular focus of the Trump administration due to the series of anti-Israel and antisemitic protests on campus amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

The administration threatened to cut hundreds of millions in federal grants unless Columbia implemented a series of changes. The university responded by increasing campus security with 36 officers who have arrest powers, adopting a formal definition of antisemitism, reviewing its admissions policies, and imposing oversight on the university’s Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department, according to The New York Times.

The university’s move to replace its president comes despite the Trump administration appearing satisfied with Armstrong’s leadership.

“She knew that this was her responsibility to make sure that children on her campus were safe,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon told CNN last week. “She wanted to make sure there was no discrimination of any kind. She wanted to address any systemic issues that were identified relative to the antisemitism on campus. And they have worked very hard in a very short period of time.”

McMahon noted that Columbia was "on the right track" but did not confirm whether the government would restore full funding to the university.