Judge Halts Immediate Funding Cuts to University of California
A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked the Trump administration from immediately withdrawing federal funding from the University of California. The ruling, delivered on Friday, 15th November 2025, also prevents the government from issuing fines against the prestigious university system over allegations that it permits antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin granted a preliminary injunction requested by labour unions and other groups representing UC faculty, students, and employees. The judge's decision puts a temporary hold on the administration's aggressive financial actions against the institution.
Legal Challenge and Constitutional Concerns
The unions initiated a lawsuit arguing that the administration is exploiting funding cuts, and the threat of such cuts, to suppress opposing viewpoints at UC. They contend this strategy violates both the Constitution and federal law.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised elite universities, claiming they are overrun by liberalism and antisemitism. In response, his administration has launched investigations into dozens of universities, accusing them of failing to stop the use of racial preferences, which it claims is a breach of civil rights law.
The Republican administration asserts that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives discriminate against white and Asian American students.
Previous Actions and Broader Implications
This is not the first time the administration has targeted a university. Over the summer, it imposed a staggering $1.2 billion fine on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and froze its research funding. The administration accused UCLA of allowing antisemitism on its campus, making it the first public university to face such severe penalties over alleged civil rights violations.
The administration has also frozen or paused federal funding for private colleges, including Columbia University, over similar claims.
University of California President James B. Milliken has warned that the enormous fine against UCLA would have a devastating impact on the entire UC system. The system's campuses are widely regarded as some of the top public colleges in the United States.
It is important to note that UC itself is engaged in settlement talks with the administration and is not a party to this specific lawsuit. Judge Lin, who presided over the case, was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
The administration's settlement proposal, made public in October, demanded that UCLA comply with its views on gender identity. It also required the university to establish a process to ensure foreign students are not admitted if they are deemed likely to engage in anti-American, anti-Western, or antisemitic disruptions or harassment.
Previously, the Trump administration has struck multi-million dollar deals with other institutions, including Brown University for $50 million and Columbia University for $221 million.
