Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Funding Cuts to UC System

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot impose fines on the University of California (UC) system or cut its federal funding over alleged discrimination, including claims of antisemitism. In a decision issued on October 27, 2023, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction preventing the administration from canceling funding without proper notice and hearings.

The ruling comes after the administration demanded that UCLA pay $1.2 billion to restore frozen research funding and ensure eligibility for future federal assistance. UCLA was the first public university to face such allegations, with the administration accusing it of failing to address antisemitism on campus. Similar funding freezes have also occurred at private institutions, such as Columbia University.

In her ruling, Judge Lin noted that various labor unions and organizations representing UC faculty and students presented significant evidence indicating that the Trump administration was engaged in a “concerted campaign” to eliminate what it perceives as “woke” or “left” ideologies from leading universities. She emphasized that officials from the administration, including the President and Vice President, have publicly outlined a strategy aimed at initiating civil rights investigations of prominent universities to justify the withdrawal of federal funding.

Lin’s ruling specified that the administration’s actions at UC amounted to “coercive and retaliatory conduct,” violating both the First Amendment and Tenth Amendment rights. The judge’s order will remain in effect indefinitely.

The University of California President James B. Milliken has previously stated that the proposed fine could have devastating effects on the UC system, which is recognized as home to some of the top public colleges in the United States. Although UC is currently engaged in settlement talks with the administration, it is not a party to the lawsuit overseen by Judge Lin, who was nominated by President Joe Biden.

In a statement, the university system reiterated its commitment to safeguarding its mission, governance, and academic freedom. The administration’s demands include compliance from UCLA regarding its stance on gender identity and ensuring that foreign students are not admitted if they could potentially engage in anti-American or antisemitic disruptions.

Judge Lin’s injunction also prohibits the administration from linking the continuation of federal funding to UC’s agreement to implement measures that would infringe on the rights of its faculty and staff. She highlighted concerns raised by UC faculty and staff, indicating that the administration’s actions are leading them to reconsider teaching or researching topics they fear may be deemed too “left” or “woke.”

The broader context of the administration’s actions includes investigations into numerous universities, with claims that these institutions have not adequately addressed the use of racial preferences, which the administration argues violates civil rights laws. The administration has characterized diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as discriminatory against white and Asian American students.

As this situation unfolds, the implications for academic freedom and the governance of higher education institutions in the United States remain significant. The federal court’s intervention reflects ongoing tensions between educational institutions and governmental policies regarding ideological diversity and civil rights.