The Trump administration is seeking a substantial $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), coupled with an additional $172 million fund designated for victims of alleged discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This demand, which could mark the largest settlement of its kind with an institution of higher education, follows the administration's recent freeze of approximately $584 million in federal grants to the university. The proposed agreement, reportedly obtained by CNN, aims to address alleged civil rights violations, particularly concerning antisemitism on campus.
The settlement proposal outlines that UCLA would pay the federal government $1 billion in installments, alongside establishing the $172 million claims fund for individuals impacted by violations of Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination based on protected characteristics. The administration's action stems from allegations, including those related to antisemitism, that UCLA failed to protect certain students and faculty, as highlighted by a recent $6 million lawsuit settlement concerning pro-Palestinian protests.
UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk has voiced significant concerns regarding the federal grant freeze, stating that the $584 million "is suspended and at risk" and warning of "devastating" consequences for the university's critical research mission. UC President James Milliken echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that a payment of this scale would severely harm the public university system and its ability to serve Californians and the nation.
Beyond financial penalties, the proposed agreement reportedly includes demands for UCLA to install a resolution monitor, appoint a senior administrator focused on anti-discrimination compliance, and revise its policies on protests, including banning overnight demonstrations. Furthermore, the administration seeks the discontinuation of race- and ethnicity-based scholarships and has made demands related to transgender rights, such as requiring single-sex housing and potentially ceasing gender-affirming care at the university's medical facilities.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has criticized the administration's approach, describing the demand as an attempt at "extortion." This action against UCLA is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting universities across the nation over alleged civil rights violations, including previous multi-million dollar agreements with institutions like Columbia and Brown universities. UCLA officials have reportedly returned to negotiations in an effort to resolve the dispute and restore federal funding.