Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Penalizing UC System

A federal judge in San Francisco has issued a ruling that prevents the Trump administration from imposing fines or cutting federal funding to the University of California (UC) based on allegations of discrimination. In a decision made late on October 2023, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin emphasized that such actions must not occur without proper notification and a hearing for affected faculty.

The ruling follows a summer demand from the administration for UCLA to pay $1.2 billion to restore frozen research funding. The administration accused the university of allowing antisemitism on campus. UCLA was notably the first public university targeted by the administration over these civil rights allegations. Similar actions have also been taken against private institutions, including Columbia University.

In her judgment, Judge Lin highlighted that labor unions and other groups representing UC faculty and students presented “overwhelming evidence” of the administration’s efforts to eliminate what they term “woke” viewpoints in higher education. “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,” Lin stated. She underscored that this strategy appeared to be in full effect at the University of California.

The ruling comes amidst a backdrop of civil rights investigations facing UC. Judge Lin found that the administration’s actions constituted “coercive and retaliatory conduct,” infringing upon the rights protected by the First Amendment and the Tenth Amendment. Following the decision, messages sent to the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice for comment were not immediately answered.

Judge Lin’s preliminary injunction will remain in effect indefinitely. James B. Milliken, President of the University of California, expressed that the proposed fine would have devastating implications for the university system, which consists of some of the most prestigious public colleges in the country. UC is currently engaged in settlement discussions with the administration and is not directly involved in the lawsuit presided over by Judge Lin, who was nominated by President Joe Biden.

In an official statement, the university system reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its mission and academic freedom. The Trump administration’s demands include compliance from UCLA on issues such as gender identity and ensuring that foreign students do not engage in activities deemed anti-American or antisemitic, as outlined in a settlement proposal released in October.

The administration has previously secured agreements with other universities, including a $50 million deal with Brown University and a $221 million agreement with Columbia University. Judge Lin referenced declarations from UC faculty and staff indicating that the administration’s actions have caused them to reconsider teaching or researching topics they fear may be perceived as too “left” or “woke.”

Her injunction also prohibits the administration from conditioning federal funding on UC’s compliance with measures that would violate the rights of faculty and staff under the First Amendment. This includes efforts to screen international students based on perceived “anti-Western” or “anti-American” views, restrict academic research and teaching, and enforce specific definitions of gender.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized elite colleges for being dominated by liberal ideologies and has initiated investigations into numerous universities over alleged civil rights violations related to affirmative action policies. His administration claims that initiatives around diversity, equity, and inclusion discriminate against white and Asian American students.