A federal judge has issued a ruling that prevents the Trump administration from imposing fines or cutting federal funding to the University of California (UC) based on allegations of discrimination, including antisemitism. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin, based in San Francisco, announced her decision on late Friday, stating that any actions taken by the administration must adhere to due process, including notifying affected faculty and conducting hearings.
The administration had previously demanded that UCLA pay $1.2 billion to regain frozen research funding and secure eligibility for future financial support. This demand followed accusations that the university had allowed antisemitism to flourish on its campus. UCLA was notably the first public university to face such scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding alleged civil rights violations. Similar actions have been taken against private institutions, including Columbia University, which also experienced frozen federal funding due to comparable claims.
In her ruling, Judge Lin emphasized that labor unions and various groups representing UC faculty, students, and staff had presented “overwhelming evidence” showing that the Trump administration was actively attempting to eliminate progressive viewpoints from leading universities across the country. She criticized the administration’s approach, stating that officials, including the President and Vice President, had publicly announced a strategy to initiate civil rights investigations at prominent universities. This strategy, according to Lin, aimed to justify cutting federal funding and pressure institutions to adopt more conservative ideologies.
The judge highlighted that the administration’s conduct constituted “coercive and retaliatory behavior” that violated the First and Tenth Amendments. The ruling comes as UC faces multiple civil rights investigations. Messages sent to the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice after hours on the day of the ruling were not immediately returned.
Judge Lin’s injunction will remain in effect indefinitely. In response to the ruling, James B. Milliken, President of the University of California, indicated that the proposed fine would have catastrophic effects on the university system, known for its prestigious public campuses. While UC is engaged in settlement discussions with the administration, it is not a party to the lawsuit overseen by Judge Lin, who was nominated by President Joe Biden.
A statement from the UC system affirmed its commitment to protecting its mission, governance, and academic freedom. The administration’s demands have included stipulations regarding compliance with its views on gender identity and guidelines to prevent the admission of international students who may engage in anti-American or antisemitic disruptions.
Judge Lin also referenced declarations from UC faculty and staff, who expressed concerns that the administration’s actions were leading them to avoid teaching or researching topics they deemed too “left” or “woke.” Her injunction specifically prohibits the administration from conditioning federal funding on agreements that would infringe upon the rights of faculty and staff under the First Amendment.
The Trump administration has been vocal in its criticism of elite colleges, alleging they are dominated by liberal ideologies and antisemitism. Investigations have been launched into numerous universities, with claims that their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts violate civil rights laws by discriminating against white and Asian American students.
As tensions continue between the administration and higher education institutions, the implications of Judge Lin’s ruling may have lasting effects on university governance and funding dynamics in the United States.
