Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Funding Cuts to UC System

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) system over claims of discrimination, specifically allegations of antisemitism. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin delivered a preliminary injunction on October 27, 2023, stating that the administration cannot withdraw funding without prior notice to the affected faculty and without conducting a hearing, among other stipulations.

The administration’s actions come after it demanded that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) pay $1.2 billion to unfreeze research funding and ensure future eligibility. UCLA was the first public institution targeted by the administration regarding alleged civil rights violations. Similar claims have also led to the freeze of federal funds for private colleges, including Columbia University.

In her ruling, Judge Lin noted that labor unions and advocacy groups representing UC faculty, students, and employees presented “overwhelming evidence” suggesting that the Trump administration is engaged in a systematic effort to eliminate what it terms “woke,” “left,” and “socialist” viewpoints from prominent universities.

“Agency officials, as well as the President and Vice President, have repeatedly and publicly announced a playbook of initiating civil rights investigations of preeminent universities to justify cutting off federal funding,” Lin wrote. She emphasized that this strategy aims to force universities to conform to specific ideological standards.

The injunction comes amid ongoing civil rights investigations affecting the UC system. Judge Lin characterized the administration’s behavior as “coercive and retaliatory,” in violation of the First Amendment and Tenth Amendment rights of the university community.

Messages sent to the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice seeking comment on the ruling were not immediately returned. The judge’s order will remain in effect indefinitely.

James B. Milliken, President of the University of California, expressed that the financial penalty imposed on UCLA would have devastating effects on the entire UC system, which is recognized as one of the top public university systems in the United States. Although UC is engaged in settlement talks with the administration, it is not a party to the lawsuit presided over by Judge Lin, who was nominated by President Joe Biden.

In a statement, the UC system reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the mission, governance, and academic freedom of the university.

The Trump administration’s demands include compliance from UCLA regarding its views on gender identity and a process to prevent the admission of international students deemed likely to engage in disruptive behavior, such as antisemitism or anti-American sentiments.

Previously, the administration reached agreements with Brown University for $50 million and Columbia University for $221 million due to similar allegations.

Judge Lin referenced declarations from UC faculty and staff indicating that the administration’s tactics have instilled fear, leading them to refrain from teaching or researching topics perceived as too “left” or “woke.” Her injunction also prohibits the administration from linking federal funding to UC’s compliance with any measures that would infringe upon the rights of faculty and students under the First Amendment.

The Trump administration has criticized elite colleges for what it claims is a pervasive liberal bias and has launched investigations into numerous universities for not eliminating racial preference policies that it argues violate civil rights laws. The administration contends that initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion discriminate against white and Asian American students.

As the situation develops, the implications of this ruling may resonate beyond the University of California, potentially influencing the broader landscape of higher education in the United States.