Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned on Friday, just a week after the school accepted a controversial set of demands from the Trump administration in order to restore federal funding.
“I appreciate having had the opportunity to play a small part in navigating this vast enterprise through some of the most difficult moments in its history,” Armstrong wrote in a public statement announcing her departure from the role. “But my heart is with science, and my passion is with healing. That is where I can best serve this University and our community moving forward.”
Armstrong will return to her previous role as head of the university’s medical center. Claire Shipman, cochair of the university’s board of trustees, has been appointed as acting president.
The Trump administration recently moved to slash $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia, a massive financial hit for the institution. In an attempt to restore funding, Columbia agreed to a series of conditions set by the administration, including stricter protest policies, a bolstered campus security force, and enhanced oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department.
Columbia faculty, through the Faculty Members’ Union in Manhattan, has filed a lawsuit for $400 million in federal funds to be restored and accused several federal agencies of ignoring legally required processes to terminate funding.
The Trump administration has also sought to deport pro-Palestine Columbia students who are permanent residents or Green Card holders. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who organized pro-Palestine activists on campus, is being held in detention as he waits to appear before an immigration judge on April 8, despite being a permanent resident.
Columbia’s deal with Trump has sparked widespread backlash, with critics condemning it as a capitulation to political pressure.
Armstrong, who took over as interim president in August, had stepped in after Minouche Shafik resigned amid heavy criticism over her handling of campus protests.
Shipman now faces the challenge of navigating Columbia’s future as it grapples with the implications of its agreement with the Trump administration and ongoing tensions within its academic community.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
