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. 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. 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.
