Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Pressure UC Through Funding

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Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Pressure UC Through Funding

Bitget-RWA2025/11/15 21:36

By:Bitget-RWA

- A federal judge blocked Trump's plan to defund UC over antisemitism claims, citing First and Tenth Amendment violations. - The $1.2B funding demand and civil rights investigations were deemed coercive tactics to suppress "woke" academic views. - UC warned the financial threat would devastate its research programs, while critics called the strategy authoritarian. - The ruling preserves UC's funding but leaves unresolved tensions over government influence in higher education.

A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s efforts to withdraw funding from the University of California (UC) system, determining that the attempt to punish the university over claims of antisemitism and discrimination breaches constitutional rights. On November 15, 2025, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction, stopping the administration from levying penalties or suspending federal grants without proper legal procedures. She described the move as part of a larger initiative to eliminate “woke,” “left-leaning,” and “socialist” perspectives from the nation’s top universities

according to the Guardian

. This ruling represents a major blow to the Trump administration’s strategy of using financial threats to pressure universities into adopting conservative values.

The administration’s campaign began in the summer of 2025, when it demanded that UC pay $1.2 billion to regain access to frozen research funds,

accusing UCLA of fostering antisemitism

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Pressure UC Through Funding image 0

This demand was part of a broader pattern targeting prestigious schools, with similar measures taken against Columbia University and other private institutions. Judge Lin concluded that the administration’s practice—initiating civil rights probes to justify funding cuts—amounted to “coercive and retaliatory actions that violate the First and Tenth Amendments”

according to NPR

. She noted that UC faculty had presented “substantial evidence” of a systematic attempt to undermine academic freedom, with some scholars reportedly avoiding research topics considered “too leftist or woke”

according to NPR

The decision highlights ongoing friction between the Trump administration and higher education, a frequent target of conservative scrutiny. The administration has criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as unfair, claiming they disadvantage white and Asian American students. In October 2025, officials offered a contentious agreement to nine universities,

promising funding if they banned race-based admissions

. Although UC was not part of this proposal, the broader approach reflects an effort to reshape academia through financial influence.

UC President James B. Milliken cautioned that the $1.2 billion demand would severely harm the system,

which includes some of the nation's top public universities

. The administration’s settlement offers also aimed to limit international student enrollment based on “anti-Western” or “anti-American” beliefs and

enforce specific definitions of ‘male’ and ‘female’ in university policies

. Judge Lin’s order specifically prohibited these requirements, stating they violate constitutional protections.

The case has sparked strong opposition from advocacy organizations and Democratic leaders. California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that universities accepting the administration’s terms would lose state support, while Democracy Forward, a progressive legal advocacy group,

called the administration’s actions “a betrayal of the Constitution” and a dangerous move toward authoritarianism

. The administration has not yet commented on the ruling, but its broader agenda—including efforts to reduce federal agencies and alter social policy, such as cutting Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood and targeting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—demonstrates a consistent use of fiscal measures to pursue ideological objectives

according to Bloomberg Law

according to NPR

With the injunction in effect, the UC system has avoided an immediate financial crisis but still faces ongoing risks. The administration’s campaign against universities, presented as a defense of free speech, has instead ignited debates about academic independence and the government’s influence over education. As the legal battle continues, the outcome may set a precedent for resolving federal funding disputes—and determine whether universities can withstand politically driven financial pressure.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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