Trump administration's demands for UCLA settlement contested by UC staff and students in lawsuit
In an escalating legal battle, the Trump administration is facing a lawsuit over allegations of destroying one of the largest public university higher education systems in the country and bludgeoning academic freedom at the University of California (UCLA).
The lawsuit, filed by twenty-one unions and faculty organizations representing workers at every University of California campus, marks the latest development in the ongoing saga between the university and President Trump.
The coalition accuses the federal government of using 'financial coercion' in its proposed settlement with UCLA. The allegations include demands for control over curriculum, faculty hiring and promotion, and university admissions, as well as a proposed $1 billion penalty.
This penalty comes a day after the federal government froze research grants worth $584 million for UCLA, a move that was met with criticism and concern from the academic community. However, it's important to note that the White House did not respond to a request for comment from News Los Angeles as of Tuesday night.
The lawsuit is not the first time the Trump administration has been accused of interfering with university affairs. In August, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore a portion of research grants, ruling that they had violated Harvard University's First Amendment rights and federal law.
Columbia University also agreed to pay a $200 million settlement to the federal government as part of an agreement to resolve investigations into alleged violations of anti-discrimination laws.
The pro-Palestinian encampments that took over the UCLA campus in 2024 have been a point of contention, with the federal government claiming they created a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.
Matthew Rodriguez, a digital producer for News Los Angeles, has been covering this story extensively. While he typically covers breaking news and crime for the outlet, his reporting on the UCLA-Trump administration case has been thorough and insightful.
As this legal battle unfolds, the future of academic freedom and research funding at UCLA remains uncertain. The American Association of University Professors, which has also joined the lawsuit, is advocating for the protection of these fundamental rights.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
