US Edition‘Unlawful Coercion’: Trump Can’t Withhold Funds or Demand Payment From UC, Federal Judge Rules
Judge Rita Lin blocked Trump administration's coercive $1.2 billion settlement demand that threatened UCLA's academic freedom and research funding, impacting over $4 billion in annual grants.
- In a ruling today, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin of the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction blocking a $1.2 billion demand against UCLA, describing Trump's actions as `coercive and retaliatory`.
- The Trump administration froze $584 million in medical, science and energy grants to UCLA before sending a sweeping settlement demand in early August 2025 with policy conditions.
- Twenty-One labor unions and faculty associations sued Trump and 15 federal agencies, presenting a 700-page record with testimony from more than 70 UC professors, staff and graduate students.
- The injunction, though preliminary, spares the UC system by pausing reluctant settlement talks while pending grant approvals remain paused and restored grants continue, courts will adjudicate the dispute.
- UCLA and UC leaders warn budget strains persist as the University of California system has cut hours or laid off more than 250 lecturers and librarians this year, and faculty report chilling of speech across campuses.
12 Articles
12 Articles
‘Unlawful Coercion’: Trump Can’t Withhold Funds or Demand Payment From UC, Federal Judge Rules
Participants of the “Kill the Cuts” rally against the Trump administration’s cuts to research funding gather outside the Wilshire Federal Building after walking from the UCLA campus in Los Angeles on April 8, 2025. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters In one of the scariest moments in modern history, we're doing our best at ScheerPost to pierce the fog of lies that conceal it but we need some help to pay our writers and staff. Please consider a ta…
Judge blocks Trump administration push to fine UCLA $1.2 billion for alleged antisemitism
A federal judge late Friday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from imposing a $1.2-billion fine on UCLA for alleged civil rights violations over antisemitism, its recognition of transgender people and use of race in admissions.
Cal Matters
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules
A federal judge ruled Donald Trump cannot demand that UCLA pay a $1.2 billion settlement that would have restricted academic freedoms.
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