With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
White House seeks $1 billion from UCLA for alleged antisemitism
A student walks towards UCLA's Royce Hall.
(
Robyn Beck
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
The White House is seeking a $1 billion settlement from UCLA over allegations that the university failed to stop antisemitism on campus — a payment that would "completely devastate” the country’s largest public university system, according to UC officials.
UC President James Milliken said in a statement Friday that the university system is reviewing the Justice Department’s demands and is negotiating with the Trump administration in an effort to reinstate federal research dollars.
“As a public university, we are stewards of taxpayer resources and a payment of this scale would completely devastate our country’s greatest public university system as well as inflict great harm on our students and all Californians,” Milliken said. “Americans across this great nation rely on the vital work of UCLA and the UC system for technologies and medical therapies that save lives, grow the U.S. economy, and protect our national security.”
Support for LAist comes from
What’s at stake?
Last week, the Trump administration suspended hundreds of UCLA’s research grants.
UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk said in a letter the cuts were a great loss to not only researchers, but to the Americans whose “work, health and future” depend on that research.
The move has left officials scrambling to figure out how they’re going to pay for experiments that are already underway and has left hundreds of grants in limbo.
How we got here
The Department of Justice last month found that UCLA failed to adequately respond to antisemitism on campus.
“Its inaction constitutes a clear violation of our federal civil rights laws, and the Justice Department will hold UCLA accountable to their legal obligations so that all students can have equal protection under the law,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division said in a statement.
Support for LAist comes from
In response, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the university would be forced to “pay a heavy price” for putting Jewish students at risk.
The DOJ announced its litigation against the university on the same day that UCLA settled a separate antisemitism lawsuit for $6.45 million. Along with the payouts, the settlement prohibits UCLA from allowing the exclusion of Jewish students from programs, activities or campus areas.
In March, UCLA launched an Initiative to Combat Antisemitism, which will implement recommendations from an earlier task force.
Similar settlements nationwide
Other universities have clawed back some of their federal funding after reaching settlements with the Trump administration. Two Ivy League universities, Columbia and Brown, have agreed to pay $221 million and $50 million, respectively, over antisemitism allegations. Harvard is also in ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration.
The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist