Judge Blocks Trump from Penalizing University of California

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot impose fines on the University of California (UC) or cut its federal funding based on allegations of antisemitism and discrimination. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a preliminary injunction on October 27, 2023, which prevents the administration from terminating financial support without prior notice and a hearing for affected faculty members.

The administration’s actions stem from claims that UCLA, a part of the UC system, allowed antisemitic behavior on campus. In response, the administration had demanded that UCLA pay $1.2 billion to restore frozen research funding and ensure future funding eligibility. This marked the first instance of a public university being targeted over alleged civil rights violations, with the administration also pausing federal funding for private institutions such as Columbia University.

In her ruling, Judge Lin highlighted the extensive evidence provided by labor unions and groups representing UC faculty and students. She stated that the Trump administration was conducting a “concerted campaign” to eliminate “woke,” “left,” and “socialist” perspectives from leading universities in the United States.

Lin wrote, “Agency officials, as well as the President and Vice President, have repeatedly and publicly announced a playbook of initiating civil rights investigations of preeminent universities to justify cutting off federal funding.” She asserted that this strategy aimed to undermine universities and compel them to adopt different ideological views.

The ruling also addressed the administration’s coercive conduct, which Lin found violated the First and Tenth Amendments. She noted that UC was currently undergoing a series of civil rights probes. Communications sent to the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice were not returned immediately after the ruling.

James B. Milliken, President of the University of California, emphasized that the proposed fine would have a catastrophic impact on the UC system, which is recognized as one of the top public university systems in the nation. The UC is currently engaged in settlement discussions with the administration, although it is not a party to the lawsuit presided over by Lin, who was nominated by President Joe Biden.

In a statement, the university system reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its mission, governance, and academic freedom. The Trump administration has insisted that UCLA must align with its views on gender identity and implement measures to screen foreign students for potential anti-American sentiments or antisemitic behavior.

The administration has previously negotiated agreements with other universities, including a settlement of $50 million with Brown University and $221 million with Columbia University.

Lin’s injunction not only blocks the administration from imposing conditions on federal funding that violate the rights of UC faculty and students but also addresses the chilling effect the administration’s actions have had on academic inquiry. Faculty and staff have reported feeling compelled to avoid teaching or researching subjects they feared could be perceived as too “left” or “woke.”

In her decision, Lin cited specific examples of the administration’s efforts to compel compliance, including proposals to restrict research and teaching or to adopt rigid definitions of gender. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of elite colleges, labeling them as dominated by liberalism and antisemitism, and his administration has initiated investigations into numerous universities for alleged violations of civil rights laws.

This ruling represents a significant legal development in the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration’s policies and public universities, particularly regarding issues of academic freedom and civil rights. The implications of this decision may resonate well beyond the immediate parties involved, influencing the broader discourse on education and discrimination in higher learning institutions.