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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump demands $1 billion from UCLA over antisemitism claims: Here's why California says it's political
The administration of US President Donald Trump is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), following accusations from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that the university violated federal civil rights laws by failing to address antisemitic incidents on campus. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the demand, as reported by the Associated Press. UCLA is the first public university to face such a large-scale financial penalty amid the Trump administration's broader push to reform higher education institutions it claims are failing to uphold civil rights protections. Federal funding for UCLA was suspended earlier, totalling $584 million, according to university officials. DOJ cites violation of civil rights law and the Fourteenth Amendment According to a DOJ finding issued on July 29, UCLA violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by 'acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students,' as reported by the Associated Press. The allegations stem largely from the university's handling of protests related to the 2024 Israel-Hamas war. During one night of unrest, counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment on UCLA's campus, resulting in several injuries before police intervened hours later. Over 200 individuals were arrested the following day after refusing orders to disband. Jewish students reported being blocked from campus areas and classrooms by demonstrators. California officials respond to $1 billion demand California Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Trump administration of using financial threats for political purposes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to reporters, he said, 'He has threatened us through extortion with a billion-dollar fine unless we do his bidding,' as quoted by the Associated Press. He contrasted California's response with settlements reached by private institutions, stating, 'We will not be like some of those other institutions that have followed a different path. ' James B. Milliken, president of the University of California, said the university had 'just received' the DOJ document and would review it. He noted that such a settlement 'would completely devastate our country's greatest public university system,' as reported by the Associated Press. Milliken, who recently assumed office, stated the university had offered to engage in a 'good faith dialogue' with the DOJ. Settlements with other universities set precedent The Trump administration has already reached civil rights settlements with other institutions, including $50 million from Brown University and $221 million from Columbia University. Columbia also regained access to over $400 million in research grants. Negotiations with Harvard University are ongoing, with the administration reportedly pressing for a larger settlement. UCLA previously settled separate civil rights lawsuit Last week, UCLA reached a $6 million settlement in a civil rights lawsuit filed by three Jewish students and a Jewish professor. The university also committed $2.3 million to organisations addressing antisemitism and supporting its Jewish community. As part of broader reforms, UCLA established an Office of Campus and Community Safety and introduced new systemwide protest guidelines. As reported by the Associated Press, Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose family history includes Holocaust survivors, also launched an initiative aimed at combating antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias on campus. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us .
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Trump Administration Seeks $1 Billion Settlement from UCLA, a White House Official Says
The Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles, a White House official said Friday, after the Department of Justice accused the school of antisemitism and other civil rights violations. UCLA is the first public university to be targeted by a widespread funding freeze over allegations of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. President Donald Trump's administration has frozen or paused federal funding over similar allegations against elite private colleges. In recent weeks, the administration has struck deals with Brown University for $50 million and Columbia University for $221 million but has explored larger settlements, such as in its ongoing battle with Harvard University. The White House official did not detail any additional demands the administration has made to UCLA or elaborate on the settlement amount. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Trump administration had suspended $584 million in federal grants for UCLA, the university said this week. On July 29, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division issued a finding that UCLA violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 'by acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.' The university had drawn widespread criticism for how it handled dispersing an encampment of Israel-Hamas war protesters in 2024. One night, counterprotesters attacked the encampment, throwing traffic cones and firing pepper spray, with fighting that continued for hours, injuring more than a dozen people, before police stepped in. The next day, after hundreds defied orders to leave, more than 200 people were arrested. Later, Jewish students said demonstrators in encampments blocked them from getting to class. An attack on California? The University of California's president, James B. Milliken, said Friday the university had 'just received' a document from the Department of Justice and would review it. He said the size of the proposed settlement would 'devastate' the University of California, whose campuses are viewed as some of the top public colleges in the nation. 'Earlier this week, we offered to engage in good faith dialogue with the Department to protect the University and its critical research mission,' said Milliken, who started as president last week. 'As a public university, we are stewards of taxpayer resources and a payment of this scale would completely devastate our country's greatest public university system as well as inflict great harm on our students and all Californians.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday accused Trump of trying to silence academic freedom in his attack on such a prestigious public university system. 'He has threatened us through extortion with a billion-dollar fine unless we do his bidding,' Newsom told reporters. Apparently referencing the settlements with Columbia and Brown, he added: 'We will not be like some of those other institutions that have followed a different path.' The $1 billion demand in the UCLA settlement is linked to Newsom's status as one of Trump's most outspoken foes, said Peter McDonough, vice president and general counsel at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents. 'Anyone who thinks this appalling demand is not blatantly political and ideological has their head in the sand,' McDonough said. 'Of course it's influenced by the fact that UCLA sits within the California system and the California system sits within the state of California.' Settlements with Trump, and in court The Trump administration has used its control of federal funding to push for reforms at elite colleges that the president decries as overrun by liberalism and antisemitism. The administration also has launched investigations into diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, saying they discriminate against white and Asian American students. Last month, Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million as part of a settlement to resolve investigations into the government's allegations that the school violated federal antidiscrimination laws. The agreement also restored more than $400 million in research grants. The Trump administration is using its deal with Columbia as a template for other universities, with financial penalties that are now seen as an expectation. For instance, the administration is pressing for a deal that would require Harvard to pay far more than Columbia's $200 million. Harvard leaders have been negotiating with the White House even as they battle in court to regain access to billions in federal research funding terminated by the Trump administration. UCLA has already reached one settlement about the 2024 protests. The university agreed last week to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit from three Jewish students and a Jewish professor who argued the university violated their civil rights by allowing pro-Palestinian protesters to block their access to classes and other areas on campus in 2024. UCLA initially had argued that it had no legal responsibility over the issue because protesters, not the university, blocked Jewish students' access to areas. The university also worked with law enforcement to thwart attempts to set up new protest camps. But in a preliminary injunction a year earlier, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi disagreed and ordered UCLA to create a plan to protect Jewish students on campus. The University of California has since created systemwide campus guidelines on protests, with an Office of Campus and Community Safety at UCLA. As part of the settlement, UCLA said it will contribute $2.3 million to eight organizations that combat antisemitism and support the university's Jewish community. UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose Jewish father and grandparents fled Nazi Germany to Mexico and whose wife is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, also launched an initiative to combat antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump vs University: UCLA faces $1 Billion federal demand after DOJ finds civil rights violations -Here's what we know
The US administration is pursuing a $1 billion settlement from UCLA, as confirmed by a White House official on Friday, following accusations of antisemitism and civil rights violations by the Department of Justice. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now UCLA has become the first state university to face such extensive funding restrictions over civil rights concerns related to antisemitism and affirmative action. The administration has previously negotiated settlements with private institutions, securing $50 million from Brown University and $221 million from Columbia University, whilst pursuing larger settlements with institutions like Harvard University, AP reported. The White House source, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorisation, provided no additional information about specific demands or the settlement figure. UCLA reported that the administration had frozen $584 million in federal grants. On July 29, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division determined that UCLA had breached the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause and the 1964 Civil Rights Act's Title VI by failing to address hostility towards Jewish and Israeli students. The university faced criticism for its handling of Israel-Hamas war protesters in 2024. During one incident, counterprotesters confronted the encampment, resulting in violence that injured several people before police intervention. The following day, authorities arrested over 200 individuals who refused to disperse. Jewish students reported being prevented from attending classes by demonstrators. James B. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Milliken, the University of California's president, acknowledged receiving the Justice Department's document on Friday. He expressed concern that the proposed settlement would severely impact the University of California system, which includes some of the nation's leading public universities. Governor Gavin Newsom criticised Trump's approach, characterising it as an attempt to suppress academic freedom. He stated his refusal to follow the path taken by other institutions that had reached settlements. Peter McDonough from the American Council on Education suggested the substantial settlement demand was politically motivated, citing UCLA's position within California's system and Newsom's opposition to Trump. The administration has employed federal funding control to advocate for reforms at prestigious institutions it views as dominated by liberalism and antisemitism. It has also investigated diversity programmes, alleging discrimination against white and Asian American students. Columbia University recently agreed to a $200 million settlement addressing federal antidiscrimination law violations, which restored over $400 million in research funding. The administration is using this agreement as a model for other universities. UCLA recently settled a separate case regarding the 2024 protests, agreeing to pay $6 million to three Jewish students and a professor who claimed civil rights violations. The university has since implemented new protest guidelines and established a Campus and Community Safety Office. The settlement includes a $2.3 million contribution to organisations combating antisemitism. Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose family has Jewish heritage and Holocaust connections, has initiated programmes to address antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias.
2 days ago
- Politics
Trump administration seeks $1 billion settlement from UCLA, a White House official says
The Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles, a White House official said Friday, weeks after the Department of Justice accused the school of antisemitism and other civil rights violations. UCLA is the first public university to be targeted by a widespread funding freeze over allegations of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. President Donald Trump's administration has frozen or paused federal funding over similar allegations against elite private colleges. In recent weeks, the administration has struck deals with Brown University for $50 million and Columbia University for $221 million but has explored larger settlements, such as in its ongoing battle with Harvard University. The White House official did not detail any additional demands the administration has made to UCLA or elaborate on the settlement amount. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Trump administration had suspended $584 million in federal grants for UCLA, the university said this week. The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division issued a finding that UCLA violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 'by acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.' The university had drawn widespread criticism for how it handled dispersing an encampment of Israel-Hamas war protesters in 2024. One night, counterprotesters attacked the encampment, throwing traffic cones and firing pepper spray, with fighting that continued for hours, injuring more than a dozen people, before police stepped in. The next day, after hundreds defied orders to leave, more than 200 people were arrested. Later, Jewish students said demonstrators in encampments blocked them from getting to class. The University of California's president, James B. Milliken, said Friday the university had 'just received' a document from the Department of Justice and would review it. He said the size of the proposed settlement would 'devastate' the University of California, whose campuses are viewed as some of the top public colleges in the nation. 'Earlier this week, we offered to engage in good faith dialogue with the Department to protect the University and its critical research mission,' said Milliken, who started as president last week. 'As a public university, we are stewards of taxpayer resources and a payment of this scale would completely devastate our country's greatest public university system as well as inflict great harm on our students and all Californians.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday accused Trump of trying to silence academic freedom in his attack on such a prestigious public university system. 'He has threatened us through extortion with a billion-dollar fine unless we do his bidding,' Newsom told reporters. Apparently referencing the settlements with Columbia and Brown, he added: 'We will not be like some of those other institutions that have followed a different path.' The $1 billion demand in the UCLA settlement is linked to Newsom's status as one of Trump's most outspoken foes, said Peter McDonough, vice president and general counsel at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents. 'Anyone who thinks this appalling demand is not blatantly political and ideological has their head in the sand,' McDonough said. 'Of course it's influenced by the fact that UCLA sits within the California system and the California system sits within the state of California.' The Trump administration has used its control of federal funding to push for reforms at elite colleges that the president decries as overrun by liberalism and antisemitism. The administration also has launched investigations into diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, saying they discriminate against white and Asian American students. Last month, Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million as part of a settlement to resolve investigations into the government's allegations that the school violated federal antidiscrimination laws. The agreement also restored more than $400 million in research grants. The Trump administration is using its deal with Columbia as a template for other universities, with financial penalties that are now seen as an expectation. For instance, the administration is pressing for a deal that would require Harvard to pay far more than Columbia's $200 million. Harvard leaders have been negotiating with the White House even as they battle in court to regain access to billions in federal research funding terminated by the Trump administration. UCLA has already reached one settlement about the 2024 protests. The university agreed last week to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit from three Jewish students and a Jewish professor who argued the university violated their civil rights by allowing pro-Palestinian protesters to block their access to classes and other areas on campus in 2024. UCLA initially had argued that it had no legal responsibility over the issue because protesters, not the university, blocked Jewish students' access to areas. The university also worked with law enforcement to thwart attempts to set up new protest camps. But in a preliminary injunction a year earlier, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi disagreed and ordered UCLA to create a plan to protect Jewish students on campus. The University of California has since created systemwide campus guidelines on protests, with an Office of Campus and Community Safety at UCLA. As part of the settlement, UCLA said it will contribute $2.3 million to eight organizations that combat antisemitism and support the university's Jewish community. UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose Jewish father and grandparents fled Nazi Germany to Mexico and whose wife is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, also launched an initiative to combat antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Trump administration seeks $1 billion from UCLA over antisemitism claims
The Trump administration has demanded USD 1 billion from the University of California, Los Angeles, a White House official said on Friday, weeks after the Justice Department accused the school of antisemitism and other civil rights is the first public university to face a funding freeze over such allegations. The administration has taken similar actions against private White House official did not outline any other demands. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment Earlier this week, UCLA said the administration had suspended $584 million in federal grants. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said the school violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Federal officials said UCLA acted with 'deliberate indifference' in creating a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli month, UCLA agreed to pay USD 6 million to settle a lawsuit by three Jewish students and a Jewish professor. They alleged the school allowed pro-Palestinian protesters to block access to classes and other campus areas in university said it remains committed to safety and inclusivity.'Earlier this week, we offered to engage in good faith dialogue with the Department to protect the University and its critical research mission,' UC president James B. Milliken said Friday. 'As a public university, we are stewards of taxpayer resources and a payment of this scale would completely devastate our country's greatest public university system as well as inflict great harm on our students and all Californians.'Under the lawsuit settlement, UCLA will contribute USD 2.3 million to eight groups that combat antisemitism and support the Jewish community. It has also created an Office of Campus and Community Safety and adopted new protest management Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose father and grandparents fled Nazi Germany to Mexico and whose wife is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, has launched an initiative to combat antisemitism and anti-Israeli month, Columbia University agreed to pay USD 200 million to settle federal allegations it violated antidiscrimination laws. The deal restored more than USD 400 million in research Trump administration says it will use the Columbia settlement as a model for other universities, with large financial penalties expected.- EndsMust Watch
