Trump Administration Freezes $339M in UCLA Grants Over Rights Violations
UPDATE: The Trump administration has just frozen $339 million in research grants to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), citing civil rights violations, including issues related to antisemitism and affirmative action. This urgent development comes as multiple federal agencies have taken action against the university, marking a significant escalation in government oversight of public institutions.
The grants affected include a staggering $240 million from the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, according to sources familiar with the situation. UCLA was notified earlier this week that funding would be suspended over serious concerns regarding its treatment of Jewish and Israeli students, as well as policies affecting women’s sports.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice have determined that UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The findings state that UCLA has created a “hostile educational environment” for Jewish students. The implications of this funding freeze are profound, potentially jeopardizing vital research that impacts hundreds of faculty and staff.
Chancellor Julio Frenk expressed his disappointment with the government’s decision, stating, “With this decision, hundreds of grants may be lost, adversely affecting the lives and life-changing work of UCLA researchers.”
The federal government’s action follows a recent settlement where Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million to resolve similar allegations, restoring over $400 million in research grants. The Trump administration aims to use this case as a framework for further actions against other universities.
In a letter to UCLA, the National Science Foundation indicated that the school’s practices are not aligned with its priorities, particularly regarding admissions processes that are perceived as disadvantaging specific racial groups, including white, Jewish, and Asian American applicants.
Moreover, the Department of Energy pointed out several instances of noncompliance, criticizing UCLA for soliciting personal statements that include race and family income. These admissions practices, long outlawed in California, have sparked intense debate over their legality and ethical implications.
Despite the freeze, UCLA recently reached a $6 million settlement with three Jewish students and a professor who claimed their civil rights were violated by pro-Palestinian protests in 2024. The university had argued that it was not responsible for the actions of protesters blocking access to classes.
Frenk defended UCLA’s commitment to inclusivity and safety, asserting that the government’s far-reaching penalty of defunding does not adequately address the alleged discrimination.
As this situation unfolds, experts and advocates are closely monitoring its impact on university funding and civil rights across the nation. The Trump administration’s bold move raises critical questions about the balance between academic freedom and federal oversight.
WHAT’S NEXT: Watch for UCLA’s response to the funding freeze and the potential legal challenges that may arise as federal scrutiny continues. The educational community is bracing for further developments that could reshape the landscape of higher education funding and civil rights enforcement.
