In a bold legal move, faculty, staff, student groups, and all labor unions representing University of California (UC) workers have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration.
The case, filed in federal court in San Francisco, accuses the administration of using civil rights laws as a weapon to threaten academic freedom, punish free speech, and force political control over public universities.
What Sparked the Lawsuit
The lawsuit follows recent actions against UCLA, where the administration fined the university $1.2 billion and froze federal research funding, claiming the school allowed antisemitism and other civil rights violations during campus protests.
This marks the first time a public university has faced such a widespread and severe funding freeze, though similar actions have already been taken against elite private universities like Harvard, Brown, and Columbia.
The coalition behind the lawsuit, led by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and represented by the legal group Democracy Forward, argues that the administration’s approach is unlawful and politically motivated.
Demands in UCLA Settlement Proposal
According to the lawsuit, the Trump administration’s proposed settlement with UCLA included extreme demands that many see as a threat to campus autonomy:
- Full government access to student, faculty, and staff data
- Release of admissions and hiring data
- End to diversity-based scholarships
- A ban on overnight demonstrations on campus
- Cooperation with immigration enforcement
These demands have raised alarm bells among educators, civil rights advocates, and free speech defenders, who say they amount to a federal overreach into university governance.
UC System Responds, But Not Part of the Lawsuit
Although the University of California system itself is not officially part of the lawsuit, spokesperson Stett Holbrook confirmed it is actively engaged in legal and advocacy efforts to protect its funding.
He warned that cutting off research money threatens critical areas like:
- Biomedical innovation
- U.S. economic competitiveness
- Public health services
President James Milliken echoed this concern, calling the current situation “one of the gravest threats” in UC’s 157-year history. The UC system depends on over $17 billion in federal support annually, including nearly $10 billion for Medicare, Medicaid, research, and student aid.
Free Speech or Federal Control?
The Trump administration says its funding freezes and investigations are aimed at rooting out antisemitism and discrimination, particularly in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. However, critics argue the administration is selectively enforcing civil rights laws and using them to punish liberal-leaning institutions.
The Department of Education has also launched dozens of investigations into K-12 school districts, signaling a broader strategy to reshape the U.S. education system according to the administration’s political vision.
Human rights groups warn that while the administration is aggressively targeting alleged antisemitism, it has not addressed rising Islamophobia or anti-Arab bias, creating a double standard.
Columbia Case Sets the Tone
The lawsuit notes that the Trump administration’s settlement with Columbia University, which included a $200 million payment and the restoration of $400 million in research funds, is now being used as a template for dealing with other universities.
This suggests that other institutions — both public and private — may face similar penalties and settlement offers if they don’t comply with federal demands.
The legal battle between the UC community and the Trump administration is about more than just funding. At its core, it’s a fight over the role of government in education, the boundaries of academic freedom, and the future of free speech on college campuses.
With billions in funding and fundamental rights at stake, the outcome of this lawsuit could have a lasting impact on how universities operate in the United States for years to come.
