In brief
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin has issued a preliminary injunction requiring the Trump administration to restore $500 million in frozen federal grant funding to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The judge found that the administration likely violated procedures outlined in the Administrative Procedure Act. The funding was originally suspended over alleged civil rights violations connected to antisemitism and affirmative action. This ruling follows a similar decision that restored $81 million in National Science Foundation grants to UCLA. The case continues to highlight tensions around federal funding and accusations of discrimination at elite universities.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding that it froze at the University of California, Los Angeles.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction, stating the government likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which mandates specific procedures for federal funding cuts. Instead of detailed explanations, UCLA received generic letters indicating that multiple grants were being suspended.
Earlier in August, UCLA revealed that the administration had frozen $584 million in federal grants over claims of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action.
Judge Lin had previously ruled in August that $81 million in grants from the National Science Foundation be restored to UCLA, denying claims that those cuts were allowable under existing regulations.
The White House did not respond to requests for comments regarding Monday’s ruling.
The Trump administration has faced criticism for utilizing its control over federal funding to enforce reforms at elite colleges, which it argues are dominated by liberal ideologies and antisemitism. It has pursued investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives deemed discriminatory toward white and Asian American students.
Recent actions by Ivy League institutions like Columbia and Brown illustrate the mounting challenges as they sought to counter similar allegations, resulting in deals to secure previously frozen funding.
This latest ruling from Judge Lin is expected to be pivotal for UCLA, especially with funding relating to critical medical research endeavors, including studies addressing Parkinson’s disease, cancer recovery, and cellular regeneration.
