A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding to the UCLA. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction on Monday, stating that the government likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by not providing specific procedures and explanations for the funding cuts. Instead, the government sent generalized form letters to UCLA, suspending multiple grants without detailed reasons.
In August, UCLA announced that the Trump administration had suspended $584 million in federal grants due to allegations of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. Judge Lin had previously ruled to restore $81 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, citing similar procedural violations.
The Trump administration has used federal funding to push for reforms at elite colleges, which President Trump criticized as being overrun by liberalism and antisemitism. The administration also launched investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, claiming they discriminate against white and Asian American students. According to CNN, two Ivy League schools, Columbia and Brown, reached agreements to maintain their funding, while Harvard successfully sued over similar funding cuts.
The administration proposed a $1 billion settlement with UCLA, which California Governor Gavin Newsom described as an extortion attempt. UCLA argued that such a payment would devastate the institution. The restored funding includes grants from the National Institutes of Health for medical research in areas like Parkinson’s disease, cancer recovery, and nerve cell regeneration, which UCLA leaders say are crucial for advancing public health.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling. The case highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and higher education institutions over issues of civil rights and funding.
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