Harvard University nears a $500 million settlement to resolve disputes with the Trump administration over funding and allegations related to campus antisemitism. The agreement seeks to restore federal research funds after months of frozen disbursements and legal battles. Columbia University's separate $200 million settlement exemplifies the administration's broader effort to impose financial penalties on elite institutions amid heightened scrutiny of diversity and equity programs. These negotiations have sparked concerns among lawmakers over academic freedom and potential precedents for higher education.