Judge Rita Lin Blocks Trump Administration's Bid To Withhold Federal Funding And Fine University Of California

U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from fining the University of California or cutting its federal funding over allegations of antisemitism or other discrimination, and the order will remain in effect for now.

“A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked the Trump administration from immediately cutting funding to the University of California over claims the school system allows antisemitism and other forms of discrimination The Trump administration cannot immediately cut federal funding to theUniversity of Californiaor issue fines against the school system over claims it allows antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, a federal judge ruled late Friday in a sharply worded decision”

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Labor unions and groups representing UC faculty, students and employees sought the injunction, and Lin required notice and a hearing before any funds can be withheld while barring the administration from forcing UC to adopt measures that would violate First Amendment rights.

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The ruling also undercuts a lengthy federal settlement proposal the Justice Department sent to UC after it suspended hundreds of millions in UCLA research grants.

The injunction arrives against the backdrop of a high-stakes demand from the administration.

Outlets report the government had demanded UCLA pay $1.2 billion to restore frozen research funding and pressed UC to accept wide-ranging changes.

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The Justice Department had suspended roughly $584 million in UCLA research grants and proposed a settlement that included sweeping measures across UCLA and the UC system.

UC officials warned that a $1.2 billion penalty would be devastating to the system and said they remain committed to protecting academic freedom while engaging in settlement talks.

Judge Lin’s opinion sharply criticized what she described as the administration’s use of a 'playbook' of civil-rights investigations to coerce ideological change.

“In summary The judge has previously sided with UC scholars several times since June in halting Trump’s termination of science and health research funding”

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She concluded that plaintiffs showed 'overwhelming evidence' the government is conducting a coordinated campaign to purge 'woke,' 'left,' and 'socialist' viewpoints from leading universities.

She found the conduct coercive and retaliatory, in violation of the First and Tenth Amendments, and the injunction bars conditioning federal grants on UC agreeing to measures that would violate faculty and students' First Amendment rights.

The ruling is read against a broader pattern in the administration’s higher-education campaign, with outlets noting similar pressure on institutions, settlements, and prior court rebukes.

Coverage cites past settlements with Brown and Columbia and other negotiated deals affecting transgender recognition and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at some schools.

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A separate Massachusetts ruling ordered reversal of cuts to Harvard.

The injunction therefore fits into ongoing litigation and negotiations across multiple institutions.

UC — which receives roughly $17.5 billion a year in federal support — says it will defend its mission and governance.