The campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in California, USA, as shown in this photo taken on August 11 - Photo: REUTERS
According to Reuters, the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks to prohibit the government from using financial threats against the university system, arguing that such actions are harmful and illegal. The plaintiffs are also seeking to reinstate suspended funding.
"The (Trump) administration attempted to implement a plan that threatened colleges and universities," the coalition filing the lawsuit—which includes the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and other unions—argued.
They assessed these threats as stemming from a disregard for curriculum, on-campus expression, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The University of California stated that it is not directly involved in the lawsuit, but is undertaking numerous legal and lobbying efforts to maintain and restore funding.
A White House spokesperson called the lawsuit a legal effort by "victim-playing professors," while asserting that the Trump administration opposes "unreasonable administrative fees" and supports responsible management of federal funds.
The U.S. government has launched an investigation into how universities handled anti-Semitism during student protests against the Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip, and has frozen funds and other areas, including climate initiatives and the DEI program.
Activists accuse the Trump administration of trying to shape universities to fit its political agenda, while critics view Washington's actions as a threat to free speech and academic freedom.
The University of California system is currently one of the largest higher education systems in the United States, with 10 main campuses, nearly 300,000 students, and 265,000 faculty and staff.
The Trump administration had previously proposed settling the investigation into the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – part of the aforementioned university system – with a $1 billion payment from the university. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom called the proposal an act of extortion.
UCLA reported in August that the government had frozen $584 million in funding before a judge ordered the Trump administration to restore some of that money.
Meanwhile, the University of California, Berkeley – another institution in the system – recently announced that it had provided information on 160 faculty and students to the government as part of an investigation.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cac-giao-su-dai-hoc-california-kien-chinh-quyen-ong-trump-20250917121501123.htm
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