Twenty-one unions and faculty organizations representing workers at every University of California campus have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its $1.2 billion fine against UCLA. The lawsuit, initiated by the American Association of University Professors, marks the latest chapter in the ongoing legal battle between the university and President Trump. The federal government had previously suspended $584 million in research funding for UCLA, citing that pro-Palestinian encampments in 2024 created “a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.”
According to NPR, the controversy began when UCLA reached a $6 million settlement with three Jewish students and a Jewish professor who claimed their civil rights were violated by the university’s handling of the protests. The settlement followed a preliminary injunction, marking the first instance of a U.S. judge ruling against a university for managing on-campus demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Trump administration accused UCLA of violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as reported by PBS. The administration has also sought a $1 billion settlement from UCLA, marking it as the first public university targeted by a funding freeze over civil rights allegations.
The Department of Justice issued a notice of violation to UCLA, stating that the university was “deliberately indifferent” to the hostile environment for Jewish students. UCLA has been given until August 5 to engage in a voluntary resolution agreement, with the DOJ prepared to file a complaint if a resolution is not reached.
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