students, faculty, and staff of the University of California file a lawsuit against the Trump administration
The Trump administration has taken a significant step in its ongoing campaign against perceived liberal bias and discrimination in higher education, targeting the University of California (UC) system with a widespread funding freeze and investigations.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been hit hardest, facing a fine of $1.2 billion and a freeze on research funding. This marks the first time a public university has been targeted with such a wide-reaching funding withdrawal by the Trump administration.
The lawsuit against UCLA alleges that the university allowed antisemitism on campus and other civil rights violations. The Trump administration is using this case as a template for other universities, with financial penalties now seen as an expectation.
The Trump administration's actions against UCLA are part of a broader crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The administration is investigating these initiatives, alleging that they discriminate against white and Asian American students.
The UC system is not taking these challenges lightly. University of California President James Milliken stated that the federal government has launched investigations and other actions against all of the UC's 10 campuses, but he did not provide details. The system is part of numerous legal and advocacy efforts to restore and maintain funding.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has launched dozens of federal investigations targeting K-12 school districts, in addition to the investigations against the University of California's 10 campuses.
The university system receives more than $17 billion each year in federal support, including nearly $10 billion in Medicare and Medicaid funding, and funding that goes toward research and student financial aid. Federal cuts to research funding could threaten lifesaving biomedical research, hamper U.S. economic competitiveness, and jeopardize the health of Americans who depend on the university's cutting-edge medical science and innovation.
In a separate development, the Trump administration has reached a settlement with Columbia University, restoring more than $400 million in research grants. Columbia agreed to pay $200 million as part of the settlement to resolve investigations into the government's allegations that the school violated federal antidiscrimination laws.
The lawsuit against the University of California, Los Angeles is led by the American Association of University Professors union (AAUP) and represented by Democracy Forward, a legal group that has brought other lawsuits against the Trump administration over frozen federal funds. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration's actions against the University of California system have sparked widespread criticism and concern. Advocates argue that the administration's actions are politically motivated and threaten academic freedom and diversity. The University of California system and its supporters are vowing to fight back against these challenges.
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