Donald Trump is trying to extort $1 billion from UCLA. Stay strong, Bruins | Opinion

After demanding hundreds of millions of dollars from East Coast universities, Grifter-in-Chief Donald Trump has moved out West. Now, his administration is trying to extort $1 billion from UCLA in exchange for restoring nearly $600 million in federal research grants.

We have no idea how the Trump administration came up with that outrageous figure, or what it covers. Is this just for UCLA? Will Trump demand the same from UC Berkeley?

It would be one thing if Trump were willing to engage in reasonable negotiations, but this is a shameful money grab. UCLA should not give in to Trump’s obscene demand.

If it does, who knows where this will end. Every time a university violates some unwritten code — perhaps by using a politically incorrect textbook, hiring too many liberal professors or hosting an event to celebrate cultural diversity — will the Trump administration demand still more money?

Why pick on UCLA?

UCLA is accused of violating civil rights laws for failing to protect Jewish students from acts of antisemitism. Most incidents occurred during the spring of 2024, when a pro-Palestinian encampment was set up on campus, leading to violent clashes with counter-protesters.

There is no question that the university’s response to rioting was too little too late — something UCLA has recognized and worked to remedy.

It ordered an independent investigation, created an Office of Public Safety and updated time, place and manner policies that govern student protests. The entire UC system banned encampments at all its campuses.

In addition, UCLA settled a discrimination lawsuit for $6 million — $2.3 million of which will go to organizations fighting antisemitism.

But none of those actions was enough to appease the Trump administration, which has also piled on other accusations.

It claims the university illegally “engages in racism” by considering factors such as zip codes and family incomes in the admissions process and by inviting applicants to disclose race “via personal statements,” rather than relying solely on a merit-based system.

It disapproves of UCLA’s policy of allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports, claiming it “has created an unsafe environment for women that further violates the integrity of the campus research environment.”

In response to these alleged offenses, the president is willing to cancel important research — including medical research that has the potential to save lives.

Trump demands more than money

Similar allegations — especially concerning antisemitism — were raised against other univiersities. As a result, Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million into the federal treasury, Brown will pay $50 millon and it appears Harvard is close to a $500 million settlement.

It’s not just money the administration is after; it’s also dictating conditions aimed at bending “woke” universities to Trump’s will, some of which pile on even more cost.

Here are some requirements included in the settlement agreement with Columbia:

• Maintain at least 36 trained officers capable of removing and/or arresting individuals when appropriate
• Prohibit protests inside academic buildings and in other areas used for student learning
• Develop training materials to “socialize all students to campus norms and values”
• Fund a resolution monitor to evaluate whether the university is abiding by terms of the agreement
• Share all student admission and faculty and staff hiring data with the resolution monitor
• Take steps to reduce financial dependence on international student enrollment
• Provide, upon request, disciplinary actions involving student visa-holders that result in expulsion or suspension

What’s next for UCLA

The university caught a potential break this week when a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore a portion of the grants that were frozen. But don’t get too excited: This administration has a tendency to ignore federal orders.

Besides, it has already signaled that it’s prepared for a standoff against Newsom. In fact, it seems to be relishing the idea, judging by a taunt from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

“Bring it on, Gavin,” she said. “The administration is well within its legal right to do this.”

The governor has been equally pugnacious.

“I’ll do everything in my power to encourage (UCLA) to do the right thing and not to become another law firm that bends on their knees, another company that sells their soul or another institution that takes a shortcut and takes the easy wrong versus the hard right,” he said.

Newsom wins points for his fighting spirit, but treating this as some kind of high-stakes Friday night football game could backfire.

UCLA and the UC Board of Regents are better off continuing their current strategy, which is to negotiate without giving in to outrageous demands — something UC Regents Chair Janet Reilly made clear when she spoke to the Los Angeles Times.

“The university remains willing to engage in a constructive and good-faith dialogue with the federal government,” she said, “but the University of California will always stand firm in protecting the integrity and values of our institution.”

Donald Trump has made it clear that his primary goal is to force liberal academia to submit to his will. He couldn’t care less about improving higher education.

UCLA has the opportunity to teach him a lesson. It should seize it.

This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Donald Trump is trying to extort $1 billion from UCLA. Stay strong, Bruins | Opinion."