(Daily Signal)—Real accountability is coming to higher education thanks to President Donald Trump.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Friday that Columbia University agreed to pay $21 million to settle antisemitism charges following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks.
“Under the guise of promoting free speech, many universities have actually become a haven for antisemitic conduct, often in violation of the universities’ own time, place, and manner policies, as well as civil rights law,” EEOC acting Chair Andrea Lucas said in a statement. “The Trump administration is committed to combating antisemitism wherever it rears its head, including the workplace—and universities are workplaces too.”
This comes on the heels of an over $200 million settlement between Columbia University and the Trump administration.
Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the settlement a “monumental victory for conservatives” who for a very long time have criticized the operation of elite universities but have been unable to make them mend their ways.
Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon celebrates Columbia University bending a knee:
“This is a monumental victory for conservatives who wanted to do things on these elite campuses for a long time because we had such far left-leaning professors.”pic.twitter.com/fFyZ4qSBCM
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 24, 2025
What’s significant is not just that Columbia will pay up. The school, according to the New York Post, reportedly agreed to “submit to independent monitoring to ensure it is complying with merit-based hiring and admissions requirements.”
The Post reported that Columbia also, “agreed to end all programming that discriminated against faculty or students—bringing it into full compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision banning race-based affirmative action—and create some yet-to-be-announced faculty positions in the name of broadening intellectual diversity.”
The school will have to provide all hiring and admissions data to the federal government to help ensure that they won’t be skirting the law like many schools clearly intend to do. Never underestimate higher education’s creativity in finding ways to racially discriminate.
The bottom line is that Columbia University’s settlement is a huge deal.
Columbia was set to lose over $400 million if they lost their legal dispute with the Trump administration. By settling, they keep some of their money, but agree to reforms (and avoid what could have been found in discovery during the case).
As Chris Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, wrote on X, the Columbia settlement is a good template for how to deal with other publicly funded higher education institutions in the future.
This is an incredible accomplishment by the Trump Administration, and codifies many of the principles in our Manhattan Statement on Higher Education. Next step: require all universities to abide by those principles in order to qualify for federal funding. https://t.co/rw4ivX9MqW
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) July 24, 2025
If they want to keep getting taxpayer dollars, they need to demonstrate an actual, verifiable commitment to reform. For too long they’ve gotten away with violating both the law and the public’s trust.
As should be clear by now, elite universities have no intention of reforming from within.
Whatever arguments about the need for ideological balance or merit-based admissions, it’s clear that the universities will simply carry on unless faced with lawsuits or defunding. And that’s because they’ve become almost universally leftist institutions, where the only marginally “conservative” forces on campus are still to the left of your typical congressional Democrat.
They are well-funded, ideologically narrow credentialing factories for the global elite. Until now, they’ve faced virtually no accountability despite their dependence on U.S. taxpayers.
Besides ideological conformity and lunacy, higher education in America has truly become a racket. Some schools, like Columbia and Harvard University, sit on (until very recently tax-exempt) endowments in the tens of billions of dollars. Meanwhile, they expect the American people to bail out student loan debt, which is really a giveaway to the universities.
But times are a changing. The blank check Americans once gave to higher education has been rescinded. Now, the American people rightfully expect them to change or see their taxpayer funding dry up. The excuse that Americans must tolerate all their nonsense in exchange for critical research is a farce.
As Jay P. Greene, a senior research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, wrote for The Daily Signal in March, if schools like Columbia fail to comply with the law, research grants can be sent elsewhere.
The American people have leverage over higher education and a president who is clearly willing to use it. It would not be surprising if after the Columbia settlement there will be a cascade of settlements by other universities, including the biggest one of all: Harvard.
Watch: President Trump tells me Harvard “wants to settle” after Columbia University agreed to pay $200M in fine. 💰
“The bottom line is we’re not gonna give any more money to Harvard… we want to spread the wealth to other schools,” he says to me.
He vows to “ultimately” win… pic.twitter.com/BV5IUjJyYv
— Iris Tao (@IrisTaoTV) July 25, 2025
The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is in talks with Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, Brown, and Harvard to hash out similar deals as the one agreed to by Columbia. Remarkable.
The settlements certainly won’t solve all of higher education’s problems, but this could very well be the end of the beginning of the fight to restore education in America.
How to Prepare for Food Emergencies if You Don’t Have a Homestead or Bunker
In an unpredictable world, where supply chain disruptions, natural disasters, or economic instability can strike without warning, having a reliable food supply is more than just smart—it’s essential for survival. Whether you’re a “prepper” or not, we all know the golden rule: self-sufficiency is key. But what if you’re living in an apartment, working long hours, or simply don’t have the land to turn into a thriving homestead? Don’t worry; there’s a practical, effective way to build your food security without needing acres of soil or a fortified bunker.
The Ideal Prep: Building Your Own Food Empire
The ultimate dream for any serious prepper is controlling your own food production. Imagine waking up to a sprawling garden bursting with fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs—tomatoes ripening on the vine, potatoes ready to harvest, and greens that provide nutrition year-round. Add in livestock like chickens for eggs and meat, and you’ve got a self-sustaining system that keeps your family fed no matter what chaos unfolds outside.
This approach isn’t just about calories; it’s about resilience. A well-maintained garden can yield hundreds of pounds of produce annually, while a small flock of chickens might produce dozens of eggs weekly. It’s empowering, cost-effective in the long run, and teaches invaluable skills like crop rotation, animal husbandry, and preservation techniques. If you have the space, time, and resources, starting small and scaling up is the best path to true independence.
The Reality Check: Not Everyone Can Homestead
But let’s face it—not all of us are in a position to go full homesteader. Urban dwellers might be limited to a balcony or community plot that’s far from sufficient for long-term needs. Busy professionals juggling jobs, families, and daily life often lack the hours required for daily tending. And for those in apartments, condos, or regions with harsh climates, raising livestock or maintaining a large garden simply isn’t feasible. Factors like zoning laws, soil quality, water access, or even physical limitations can make this ideal out of reach.
That’s where the frustration sets in. You want to be prepared, but without a homestead or bunker, how do you ensure your pantry doesn’t run dry during a prolonged crisis? The good news is, you don’t have to sacrifice your preparedness goals. There’s a smart, accessible alternative that bridges the gap: investing in high-quality, long-term storage food.
The Smart Alternative: Long-Term Storage Food from Heaven’s Harvest
Long-term storage food is designed for exactly these scenarios—providing nutrient-dense, shelf-stable meals that last for decades without refrigeration or special conditions. It’s the perfect solution for preppers who can’t rely on fresh production but still demand reliability and variety in their emergency stockpile.
At Heaven’s Harvest, they specialize in premium survival food kits that make preparedness effortless. Their products are crafted with the prepper mindset in mind: non-GMO, made in the USA, and packed with real ingredients that taste like home-cooked meals, not bland rations. Whether you’re stocking up for a short-term blackout or a long-haul SHTF event, our kits offer:
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Unlike generic store-bought cans that spoil quickly or lack variety, Heaven’s Harvest focuses on quality and sustainability. Our food is freeze-dried or dehydrated to lock in flavor and nutrients, ensuring you’re not just surviving but thriving. And for those concerned about allergens or dietary preferences, we offer gluten-free and vegetarian options to keep everyone covered.
Why Wait? Secure Your Food Supply Today
Preparing for food emergencies doesn’t require a homestead or bunker—it requires action. By choosing long-term storage food from Heaven’s Harvest, you’re taking control in a way that fits your lifestyle. Start small with a 72-hour kit to test the waters, or go all-in with a year’s supply for ultimate security.
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