August 08, 2025
The Trump administration is intensifying its demands on the University of California, Los Angeles, aiming for a staggering $1 billion settlement. This move follows similar agreements reached with other educational institutions, as reported by various news outlets.
James B. Milliken, the president of the University of California system, expressed grave concerns in a recent statement, emphasizing that such a financial demand could severely undermine the integrity of the nation’s premier public university system and adversely affect students and residents across California.
The push for a settlement arises amid allegations from the federal government that UCLA has breached civil rights laws by not adequately safeguarding students against antisemitism, particularly during a wave of pro-Palestinian protests on campus last spring. In response, the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies have suspended $584 million in research funding, as noted by UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk. Furthermore, the administration is requesting that UCLA allocate $172 million to support victims of civil rights violations.
In light of these developments, officials from the UC system announced their intention to engage in negotiations with the federal government, aiming for a “voluntary resolution agreement” to address the serious allegations.
Milliken stated that the primary objective is to restore the $584 million in federal funding that has been suspended, asserting that cuts to research funding do not effectively combat antisemitism.
UCLA has been among several universities whose leaders have been summoned before Congress in recent years to discuss issues related to pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the associated claims of antisemitism and harassment.
If UCLA successfully negotiates a settlement with the Trump administration, it would mark a significant milestone as the first public university to do so, following two other institutions that have recently reached agreements with the federal government. Last month, Columbia University finalized a groundbreaking settlement, agreeing to implement changes in admissions and academic programs while paying $221 million to resolve investigations into alleged antisemitism and to restore some previously frozen research funding. This agreement will be monitored by an independent third party.
Additionally, Brown University reached a separate agreement with the federal government in July, which did not involve a financial payout to the Trump administration but included commitments to provide admissions data and restrict transgender athletes from competing, among other stipulations.
As of now, federal officials have not responded to inquiries regarding the ongoing negotiations.
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