On Monday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate over $500 million worth of research funds to UCLA.
The half a billion in federal grant funds was frozen in August. Funding was cut off to the university from the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and more.
According to the Trump administration, their decision was due to claims of anti-Semitic incidents, discrimination in the admissions process, and other civil rights violations.
Over 600 Jewish members associated with UCLA signed a public letter in defense of the University of California.
“We urge the Trump Administration to cease its attempts to deprive institutions such as ours of vital research funds intended to save and improve lives. And we ask that it cease its misplaced efforts to withhold funds in the name of combating antisemitism,” the letter said, “The impact of the cuts will have a deleterious effect on all members of our community, including but not restricted to Jews.”
U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin claimed that the grant money freezes were unconstitutional since they were done “without proper review or clear explanation.”
The requirement for the Trump administration to restore funding, however, is only temporary until the case further develops.
