Newsom accusedly labels Trump's $1 billion UCLA proposal as extortionate
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is currently engaged in settlement talks with the Trump administration, following a US$1 billion settlement offer made by the administration on August 8, 2025. This offer comes amidst a freeze in funding worth $584 million, which has been imposed on UCLA due to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
The settlement offer appears to be a resolution to the ongoing dispute over the funding freeze, which could potentially impose significant financial burdens on UCLA through the large settlement payments. The offer also aims to address the controversy surrounding the withholding of research grants, as a judge recently ordered the administration to restore these grants to UCLA.
UCLA has agreed to pay over $6 million to settle a lawsuit alleging antisemitism on campus. The government alleges that UCLA allowed antisemitism during the pro-Palestinian protests, violating the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli students. However, protesters, including some Jewish groups, contest this equating of criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and Palestinian territories with antisemitism.
UCLA has faced criticism this year over a violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters, and the university was sued as a result. The university states that paying a large settlement would "completely devastate" the institution.
The Trump administration has also settled with Columbia University for over $220 million and Brown University for $50 million, although no further details on ongoing investigations were provided.
The office of Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has described the situation as political extortion and a billion-dollar political shakedown. Newsom's office stated that the Trump administration is weaponizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to freeze funding at UCLA.
Rights advocates have observed a rise in antisemitism, anti-Arab bias, and Islamophobia due to Middle East conflict. Protesters and advocates have raised concerns over the politicization of these issues and the potential impact on academic freedom and civil rights.
The White House had no immediate comment beyond the settlement offer. The future of the settlement talks and the funding freeze at UCLA remains uncertain.
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- The settlement offer made by the Trump administration to UCLA is a potential resolution to the controversy over the funding freeze, which has imposed significant financial burdens on UCLA due to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
- The settlement offer also addresses the withholding of research grants from UCLA, as a judge recently ordered the administration to restore these grants due to allegations of antisemitism on campus.
- UCLA has agreed to pay over $6 million to settle a lawsuit alleging antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests, with the government alleging that UCLA allowed antisemitism, violating the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli students.
- The Trump administration has also settled with Columbia University for over $220 million and Brown University for $50 million, although details on ongoing investigations were not provided.
- Governor Gavin Newsom's office has described the situation as political extortion and a billion-dollar political shakedown, accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing the Department of Justice to freeze funding at UCLA.
