UCLA is set to negotiate with the Trump administration after federal agencies froze approximately $339 million in research grants. This action follows accusations from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that UCLA violated Jewish students’ civil rights during a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. The university, the first public institution targeted by President Trump, is considering legal options and may tap into emergency reserves to support affected researchers.
During a virtual town hall attended by about 3,000 faculty members, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for research administration, Marcia L. Smith, stated that the university is preparing to contact the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy to discuss the information needed to lift the suspensions. Smith expressed hope for a resolution, while UCLA’s vice chancellor for research, Roger Wakimoto, emphasized that the university’s response is being closely watched by other public institutions nationwide.
The grant suspensions have impacted research in fields such as neuroscience, clean energy, and cancer. UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk has challenged the justification for pulling grants, stating, “A sweeping penalty on life-saving research doesn’t address any alleged discrimination.” The DOJ has given UCLA until Tuesday to indicate its willingness to negotiate, or face a lawsuit by September 2.
In response to the situation, hundreds of UCLA faculty members have signed a petition demanding that the University of California take a stronger stance against the administration’s demands. The petition calls for the university to use its endowment funds to bridge the gap left by the suspended grants. As negotiations and potential legal actions loom, UCLA’s leadership is working to find a path forward.
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