DOJ Finds UCLA Violated Civil Rights, Suspends $584M in Federal Grants

In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) determined that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) violated federal civil rights laws by failing to adequately address antisemitic harassment and discrimination on campus. This finding led the Trump administration to suspend approximately $584 million in federal research grants to the university.

The DOJ's investigation revealed that from October 7, 2023, to the present, Jewish and Israeli students at UCLA were subjected to severe and pervasive harassment, creating a hostile educational environment. The university's inaction was deemed a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In response, the Trump administration suspended significant federal research funding, affecting grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Energy.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, "Our investigation into the University of California system has found concerning evidence of systemic anti-Semitism at UCLA that demands severe accountability from the institution." She emphasized that the DOJ would "force UCLA to pay a heavy price for putting Jewish Americans at risk."

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk criticized the funding suspension, stating that it adversely affected the lives and work of UCLA researchers, faculty, and staff, and did nothing to address the alleged discrimination.

UCLA contested the funding suspension, leading to legal action. On August 12, 2025, U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin ordered the Trump administration to reinstate a portion of the suspended NSF grants. The judge ruled that the suspension violated a prior injunction and was based on arbitrary reasoning. The NSF was ordered to comply by August 19 or provide justification for the continued withholding of funds.

In a related development, UCLA reached a $6.13 million settlement with three Jewish students and a professor who sued the university, alleging that it failed to prevent pro-Palestinian protesters from blocking their access to campus areas, thereby violating their civil rights. As part of the settlement, $2.3 million was allocated to organizations combating antisemitism.

Additionally, the Trump administration proposed a $1 billion settlement with UCLA following the DOJ's investigation. This proposal was met with strong opposition from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, who condemned it as a political shakedown and an assault on academic freedom.

These events underscore the complex intersection of federal funding, civil rights enforcement, and university policies regarding campus discrimination. The suspension of substantial federal research grants has significant implications for academic research and the broader scientific community. The legal battles highlight the challenges universities face in balancing free speech, academic freedom, and the need to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

As legal proceedings continue, the case serves as a pivotal example of the challenges institutions face in addressing allegations of discrimination while maintaining academic freedom and institutional autonomy.