The Trump administration cannot immediately cut federal funding to the University of California or impose fines on the school system over allegations it engages in anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, a federal judge ruled Friday.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco issued the preliminary injunction sought by unions and other groups representing UC faculty, students and employees.
Messages sent to the White House and the U.S. Justice Department were not immediately returned.
The unions allege in the lawsuit that the administration is using funding cuts and the threat of layoffs to silence opposing viewpoints at the University of California, in violation of the Constitution and federal law. President Donald Trump has condemned elite colleges as overrun by liberalism and anti-Semitism.
His administration has opened investigations at dozens of universities, alleging they have failed to stop the use of racial preferences in violation of civil rights law. The Republican administration says diversity, equity and inclusion efforts discriminate against white and Asian American students.
In summer. he fined UCLA $1.2 billion and froze research funding after accusing the university of allowing anti-Semitism on campus. UCLA was the first public university to come under attack from the administration over allegations of civil rights violations.
He also froze or suspended federal funding over similar claims against private colleges, including Columbia University.
UC President James B. Milliken said the size of UCLA's fine would destroy the UC system, whose campuses rank among the best public colleges in the country.
The University of California is negotiating a settlement with the administration and is not a party to the lawsuit facing Lin, who has been nominated by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
The administration has demanded that UCLA adhere to its views on gender identity and implement a process to ensure that international students will not be admitted if they may engage in anti-American, anti-Western or anti-Semitic “disruption or harassment,” among other demands outlined in a settlement proposal unveiled in October.
The administration previously struck deals with Brown University for $50 million and Columbia University for $221 million.
