US education secretary praises Columbia’s reforms to unlock $400 million

WASHINGTON: US Education Secretary Linda McMahon said on Sunday that changes Columbia University made under pressure from the Trump administration were good first steps toward it restoring federal funding that was pulled over allegations the school tolerated antisemitism on campus.

“We are on the right track now to make sure the final negotiations to unfreeze that money will be in place,” McMahon said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” The Ivy League university in New York City laid out plans on Friday to reform its disciplinary process, hire security officers with arrest powers and appoint a new official with a broad remit to review departments that offer courses on the Middle East. It also banned face masks on campus if they were being worn to break rules or laws.