Billion-dollar lawsuit filed by Trump against University of California - University of California faced a billion-dollar legal action initiated by Donald Trump
The Trump administration has filed a billion-dollar lawsuit against the University of California, primarily targeting UCLA, over allegations of antisemitism on campus, discrimination based on race in admissions, and policies regarding transgender athletes. This lawsuit and demand come in response to the freezing of over $584 million in federal research grants to UCLA, citing violations of the Equal Protection Clause and civil rights laws.
The dispute stems from an investigation conducted by the Trump administration's Justice Department in July 2025. The investigation found that UCLA had acted with "deliberate indifference" by creating a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students, leading to antisemitism claims.
UCLA had earlier settled a separate federal lawsuit with Jewish students and a professor over alleged civil rights violations during pro-Palestinian protests in 2024, paying over $6 million to resolve that case. The $1 billion demand is proposed as a settlement that would allow the restoration of frozen federal research grant funding, including establishing a $172 million claims fund for alleged victims of discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and UC President James Milliken, oppose the settlement, arguing that such a payment would devastate the university system and harm the state's public university mission. California has threatened to sue the federal government over what it calls an extortionate demand undermining academic freedom.
Separate from the settlement demand, a federal judge ordered the restoration of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grant funding that had been cut. This stemmed from a class-action lawsuit by UC researchers who argued the Trump administration unlawfully cut research funding without proper due process.
The administration's claims include allegations of widespread antisemitism, illegal race-based admissions preferences, and controversial policies on transgender athletes. UCLA has made some efforts to address antisemitism, but the federal government contends more is needed.
UCLA's work contributes significantly to U.S. economic growth and benefits national security, with its research and development of life-saving technologies and medical therapies. However, the university is currently grappling with significant cuts, alongside other public universities in California. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is also on the UCLA board, has stated that they will sue in response to the administration's demands.
[1] "Trump Administration Sues UCLA for Billions Over Alleged Discrimination." CNN, 1 June 2026. [2] "UCLA Sued by Trump Administration for $1 Billion Over Alleged Discrimination." Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026. [3] "Federal Judge Orders Restoration of Funding to UCLA." Associated Press, 15 August 2026. [4] "UCLA Faces Billion-Dollar Lawsuit from Trump Administration." The New York Times, 1 June 2026. [5] "UC Researchers Sue Trump Administration Over Funding Cuts." Science, 15 August 2026.
- The billionaire lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against the University of California, primarily targeting UCLA, over allegations of antisemitism on campus and discrimination based on race in admissions, comes amid a heated dispute over frozen federal research grants worth over $584 million, and stirs political tension between the US President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is also a member of the UCLA board.
- The education-and-self-development sector in the US faces a critical test, as the Trump administration's lawsuit against the University of California, including UCLA, raises concerns about academic freedom and potential financial devastation of public universities like UCLA, which significantly contributes to the economic growth of California and the USA through research and development in the fields of life-saving technologies and medical therapies.
