A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500m in federal grant funding that was frozen at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). US District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction on Monday, ruling that the government likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide specific explanations for the funding cuts.
In August, the Trump administration suspended $584m in federal grants to UCLA over allegations of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. The university was informed through generalized form letters, with no specific details provided. Judge Lin had previously restored $81m in National Science Foundation grants to UCLA in a separate ruling.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration has used federal funding to push for reforms at elite colleges, citing concerns over liberalism and antisemitism. It has also launched investigations into diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, alleging discrimination against white and Asian American students.
Monday's ruling affects hundreds of medical research grants from the National Institutes of Health, including studies on Parkinson's disease, cancer recovery, and nerve cell regeneration. UCLA has argued that these grants are vital for improving public health. The Trump administration had proposed a $1bn settlement, which California Governor Gavin Newsom called an extortion attempt, and UCLA said would “devastate” the institution.
