UCLA experiences setback in federal research funding due to escalating conflict with leading universities, as per government's continued battle.
Trump Administration Suspends $200 Million in Funding to UCLA Over Antisemitism Allegations
The Trump administration has suspended nearly $200 million in federal research funding to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), citing accusations of antisemitic discrimination on campus.
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division found UCLA in violation of federal law for creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by a group of Jewish students last June, alleging that the university allowed discrimination against Jews to flourish following Israel's military operation in Gaza.
Other elite universities targeted for similar funding cuts or investigations over antisemitism allegations include Columbia University, Brown University, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Some of these institutions have reached settlements or agreements with the administration in recent weeks to restore funding and address the concerns raised.
UCLA agreed to be prohibited from knowingly allowing or facilitating the exclusion of Jewish students, faculty, and/or staff from university programs and activities. The settlement also includes a provision for UCLA to pay $6.45 million, with more than $2 million going to organizations that combat antisemitism and support the UCLA Jewish community.
The Department of Health and Human Services stated they will not fund institutions that promote antisemitism. The funding suspension affects grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
Chancellor Julio Frenk wrote an open letter to students and faculty about the funding suspension, expressing his disappointment and commitment to addressing the issues raised. Columbia University also agreed to a settlement with the government to restore its grants. Harvard University is currently fighting the funding decisions in court.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the DOJ will force UCLA to pay a heavy price for putting Jewish Americans at risk and continue investigations into other campuses in the UC system. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to enter into a voluntary resolution agreement with UCLA.
The exact amounts for universities other than UCLA have not been detailed publicly, but UCLA represents the first very large scale funding suspension linked explicitly to these antisemitism allegations under the Trump administration. This reflects a broader administration effort, particularly focused on high-profile elite East Coast and California schools, to address and root out alleged antisemitic discrimination in higher education.
| University | Funding Cuts / Actions Related to Antisemitism Allegations | |--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | UCLA | $200 million in science and medical research grants frozen | | Columbia University | Reached settlements to resolve antisemitism-related investigations | | Brown University | Settled recently to restore funding after similar allegations | | Harvard University | Under conflict with administration over funding and foreign student bans related issues | | University of Pennsylvania| Recently involved in agreements similar to above |
- The Trump administration's move to suspend funding to UCLA, a leading university, is part of a broader effort to address and root out alleged antisemitic discrimination in higher education, focusing particularly on high-profile institutions such as Columbia University, Brown University, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to enter into a voluntary resolution agreement with UCLA, which has agreed to pay a heavy price for putting Jewish Americans at risk and to be prohibited from knowingly allowing or facilitating the exclusion of Jewish students, faculty, and staff from university programs and activities.
- The Trump administration's policy and legislation against antisemitism is evident in the funding cuts and investigations, with institutions like Columbia University reaching settlements to restore their grants, while others like Harvard University are fighting these decisions in court, and universities like Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania have already settled to restore their funding after similar allegations.
