A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding that had been frozen at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). U.S. District Judge Rita Lin, based in San Francisco, issued a preliminary injunction on Monday, finding that the government likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act by not providing specific reasons or following required procedures when suspending multiple grants. The government had sent UCLA generalized form letters about the suspension but did not offer detailed explanations.
In August, UCLA reported that $584 million in federal grants were suspended due to allegations from the Trump administration regarding civil rights violations connected to antisemitism and affirmative action policies. Last month, Judge Lin ruled that $81 million in National Science Foundation grants must be restored after determining those cuts also breached an earlier court order requiring restoration of terminated grants across the University of California system’s ten campuses.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday’s ruling.
The Trump administration has used its authority over federal funding as leverage for reforms at elite universities, criticizing them for being influenced by liberalism and antisemitism. It has also investigated diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at colleges, claiming these efforts discriminate against white and Asian American students.
Columbia and Brown universities reached agreements with the administration to maintain their funding after similar claims related to campus antisemitism. In Harvard’s case, a lawsuit led to a federal judge ruling this month that freezing funds was illegal retaliation after Harvard rejected demands from the administration.
The Trump administration had suggested resolving its investigation into UCLA with a $1 billion payment from the university. California Governor Gavin Newsom described this proposal as an extortion attempt. UCLA stated such a payment would have severe financial consequences for the institution.
Monday’s decision affects hundreds of medical research grants from the National Institutes of Health supporting studies on Parkinson’s disease treatment, cancer recovery, nerve cell regeneration and other research areas considered important for public health advancement.
