Trump administration ordered to partially restore UCLA funding

A district judge ordered the partial restoration of federal funding to the University of California, Los Angeles on Tuesday after the Trump administration paused more than $550 million to the institution.

U.S. District Judge Rita Lin ruled that the pausing of some of the grants violates a previous preliminary injunction in which she said the administration had to restore funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that was stripped back in June.

The Los Angeles Times reported UCLA will see one-third of the funding restored from this decision.

“While we have not had an opportunity to review the court’s order and were not party to the suit, restoration of National Science Foundation funds is critical to research the University of California performs on behalf of California and the nation,” a spokesperson for the institution said in a statement.

The judge gave the Trump administration until Aug. 19 to prove it has unfrozen funds or to provide an explanation on why the steps have not been taken.

“Pursuant to the ruling by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on August 12th, the U.S. National Science Foundation has reinstated the suspended awards to the University of California – Los Angeles,” an NSF spokesperson said.

The decision comes as the White House is eyeing a $1 billion settlement with UCLA for the federal funding to be restored, along with other concessions such as changes to admissions practices and a ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports.

The pulled grants came after the Department of Justice determined UCLA was violating civil rights law due to antisemitism on campus.

The University of California is engaged in conversation with the Trump administration to restore the funding and the institution’s ability to apply for new grants.

“Currently, a total of approximately $584 million in extramural award funding is suspended and at risk,” Julio Frenk, chancellor of the university, wrote in a letter that went out to the community. “If these funds remain suspended, it will be devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation.”

Updated at 3:08 p.m. EDT.