Introduction to the Conflict

University of California leaders face a difficult choice after the U.S. Department of Justice said this week that UCLA had violated the civil rights of Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests and federal agencies on Wednesday suspended more than $300 million in research grants to the school. Do they agree to a costly settlement, potentially incurring the anger of taxpayers, politicians and campus communities in a deep-blue state that’s largely opposed to President Trump and his battle to remake higher education? Or do they go to court, entering a protracted legal fight and possibly inviting further debilitating federal actions against the nation’s premier public university system, which has until now carefully avoided head-on conflicts with the White House?

What Led to the Conflict

In findings issued Tuesday, U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi and the Justice Department said UCLA would pay a “heavy price” for acting with “deliberate indifference” to the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli students who complained of antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7, 2023. That’s when Hamas attacked Israel, which led to Israel’s war in Gaza and the pro-Palestinian student encampment on Royce Quad. The Justice Department gave UC — which oversees federal legal matters for UCLA and nine other campuses — a week to respond to the allegations of antisemitism. It wrote that “unless there is reasonable certainty that we can reach an agreement” to “ensure that the hostile environment is eliminated and reasonable steps are taken to prevent its recurrence,” the department would sue by Sept. 2.

What Comes Next

The Times spoke to more than a dozen current and former senior UC leaders in addition to higher education experts about the rapid deliberations taking place this week, which for the first time have drawn a major public university system into the orbit of a White House that has largely focused its ire on Ivy League schools. Trump has accused universities of being too liberal, illegally recruiting for diversity in ways that hurt white and Asian American students and faculty, and being overly tolerant of pro-Palestinian students who he labels as antisemites aligned with Hamas. Universities, including UCLA, have largely denied the accusations, although school officials have admitted that they under-delivered in responding to Jewish student concerns.

Recent Settlements and Their Implications

In a major payout announced Tuesday — before the Justice Department’s findings — UCLA said it would dole out $6.45 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by three Jewish students and a medical school professor who alleged the university violated their civil rights and enabled antisemitism during the pro-Palestinian encampment in 2024. About $2.3 million will be donated to eight groups that work with Jewish communities, including the Anti-Defamation League, Chabad and Hillel. Another $320,000 will be directed to a UCLA initiative to combat antisemitism, and the rest of the funds will go toward legal fees. Other Ivy League universities have also made significant settlements, with Columbia recently reaching a $221-million settlement with the White House to resolve investigations over alleged antisemitism amid its response to pro-Palestinian protests. Brown University also came to a $50-million agreement with the White House, with the payment going toward Rhode Island workforce development programs. Harvard is also negotiating a deal with the government over similar accusations regarding antisemitism.

What Insiders Say

Senior UCLA and UC leaders, who spoke on background because they were not authorized to discuss legal decisions, said the university has been bracing for this moment for months. The university and individual campuses are under multiple federal investigations into alleged use of race in admissions, employment discrimination against Jews, and civil rights complaints from Jewish students. At the same time, leaders said, they were hoping the multimillion-dollar settlement with Jewish students would buy them time. “It backfired,” said one senior administrator at UCLA, reflecting the sense of whiplash felt among many who were interviewed. “Within hours of announcing our settlement, the DOJ was on our back.”

The Bigger Picture

Higher education experts say UC’s decision would set a national precedent. The university’s finances include more than $50 billion in operating revenues, $180 billion in investments — including endowment, retirement, and working capital portfolios — and smaller campus-level endowments. The funds support facilities across the state, including multiple academic health centers, investment properties and campuses, as well as tens of thousands of former employees enrolled in retirement plans. Dozens of public campuses across the U.S. are under investigation or pressure from the White House to atone for alleged wrongdoing to Jewish students or to change admissions, scholarship programs and protest rules and more. But UC has long been a standard-bearer, including in academic and protest freedoms.

Conclusion

The University of California’s situation with the Justice Department and the potential settlement or legal battle ahead poses significant implications not just for UCLA but for the entire higher education system in the United States. The outcome of this conflict will set a precedent for how universities navigate allegations of antisemitism, discrimination, and the balance between academic freedom and ensuring a safe environment for all students. As the nation watches, the decision made by UC leaders will have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the university’s finances and reputation but also the broader landscape of higher education and its role in societal debates.

FAQs

• Q: What is the current situation between UCLA and the Justice Department?
  • A: The Justice Department has found UCLA in violation of the civil rights of Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests and has suspended over $300 million in research grants. UCLA has a week to respond to the allegations and potentially negotiate a settlement.
• Q: How much did UCLA agree to pay in a recent settlement related to antisemitism allegations?
  • A: UCLA agreed to pay $6.45 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by three Jewish students and a medical school professor who alleged the university violated their civil rights and enabled antisemitism.
• Q: Are other universities facing similar allegations and settlements?
  • A: Yes, other Ivy League universities such as Columbia and Brown have reached settlements with the White House over allegations of antisemitism, with Columbia settling for $221 million and Brown for $50 million. Harvard is also in negotiations over similar allegations.
• Q: What are the implications of UC’s decision for the broader higher education system?
  • A: The decision will set a national precedent, affecting how universities handle allegations of discrimination, antisemitism, and the balance between academic freedom and student safety. It will have significant implications for the financial and reputational standing of universities and their role in societal and political debates.