Judge Blocks Trump From Penalizing University of California/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge has indefinitely barred the Trump administration from cutting funding to the University of California over discrimination allegations. The court ruled that constitutional rights were being violated in a politically driven campaign. The decision follows threats to fine UCLA $1.2 billion.
University of California Ruling Quick Looks
- Federal judge blocks Trump administration from defunding UC over alleged antisemitism.
- Preliminary injunction halts $1.2 billion fine against UCLA.
- Court finds coercive tactics violate First and Tenth Amendments.
- Ruling cites evidence of a political campaign targeting “left” or “woke” ideologies.
- Judge Rita Lin says civil rights claims used to suppress academic freedom.
- The injunction prevents future funding conditions that violate faculty rights.
- UC is not party to the lawsuit but in separate settlement talks.
- Trump administration previously settled with Brown and Columbia Universities.
Deep Look
Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Penalizing University of California Over Ideological Discrimination Claims
SAN FRANCISCO — In a major legal setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape higher education policy, a federal judge has issued an indefinite injunction preventing the White House from penalizing the University of California system over allegations of antisemitism and ideological discrimination.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin ruled late Friday that the administration cannot unilaterally fine the University of California or revoke its federal funding based on unproven claims of campus discrimination — unless it follows due process, including notifying faculty and holding formal hearings.
The ruling stems from the administration’s attempt to levy a $1.2 billion penalty against UCLA, claiming the school failed to prevent antisemitism and civil rights violations on campus. UCLA became the first public university targeted under the administration’s campaign, though similar action has been taken against several private institutions, including Columbia University and Brown University.
In her forceful 50-page decision, Judge Lin accused the administration of leveraging civil rights investigations as a political weapon designed to intimidate institutions perceived as ideologically opposed to the current federal agenda.
“Overwhelming Evidence” of Political Retaliation
Judge Lin — appointed by President Joe Biden — found that groups representing faculty, students, and employees across UC campuses had presented “overwhelming evidence” that the administration’s actions were part of a calculated effort to purge “woke, left, and socialist” viewpoints from elite academic institutions.
“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 wrote. “The goal, as clearly stated, is to bring universities to their knees and force them to change their ideological tune.”
She added that this exact strategy is now being implemented at the University of California.
First and Tenth Amendment Violations
Judge Lin found that the administration’s threats and funding freezes violated both the First Amendment, which protects free expression and academic freedom, and the Tenth Amendment, which reserves certain powers for the states.
Her injunction also prevents the administration from requiring the UC system to adopt any federal policies or definitions — such as rigid definitions of gender or mandatory ideological screenings of international students — as a condition for continuing federal funding.
The ruling specifically cited proposals that would have forced the UC system to screen foreign students for potential “anti-American” or “anti-Western” views, restrict faculty research deemed too political, and adopt a uniform definition of “male” and “female.”
“These measures are not only coercive but constitute a clear attempt to override university governance and academic independence,” Lin concluded.
UCLA Fine Would Have Been “Devastating”
University of California President James B. Milliken had previously stated that the proposed $1.2 billion fine against UCLA would financially cripple the UC system, home to some of the nation’s most prestigious public institutions. The university system has said it is committed to defending academic freedom and is currently in separate settlement negotiations with the administration.
In a statement released after the ruling, the UC system reaffirmed that it “remains committed to protecting the mission, governance, and academic freedom of the University.”
A Broader Pattern of Crackdowns
The case before Judge Lin is part of a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on what it describes as ideological bias and antisemitism in higher education.
Administration officials have accused numerous universities of violating federal civil rights laws by allowing campus cultures they claim are hostile to Jewish and conservative students. At the same time, they argue that diversity, equity, and inclusion programs discriminate against white and Asian American students.
The administration has previously reached settlements that included $50 million from Brown University and $221 million from Columbia University, using civil rights violations as leverage in negotiations.
Judge Lin cited affidavits from UC faculty and researchers who said the administration’s actions had a chilling effect on academic inquiry. Many reported avoiding certain subjects or abandoning research altogether out of fear they would be labeled “too left” or “too woke.”
What Comes Next?
The court’s injunction blocks the administration indefinitely from suspending funding, levying fines, or forcing policy changes without clear legal procedures. It ensures that no further penalties can be imposed unless proper investigations and hearings are conducted — and unless the university’s constitutional rights are upheld.
The White House and U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment immediately following the ruling.
While the University of California was not a named party in the lawsuit, the decision offers its campuses temporary relief from one of the most aggressive education policies pursued by the Trump administration.
Whether the administration will appeal the ruling remains uncertain, but for now, the University of California retains its federal funding — and its ability to operate without bowing to federal ideological mandates.
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