Introduction to the Controversy
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday said UC should not bend “on their knees” to the president as university leaders negotiate with the Trump administration to restore more than half a billion dollars in frozen UCLA grants amid antisemitism accusations.
Background on the Issue
Newsom chided settlements Trump struck with two Ivy League universities. Columbia and Brown agreed to pay hefty fines and make sweeping campus changes in exchange for the restoration of research money that was also canceled over Trump antisemitism allegations. Harvard too is negotiating with the government over similar charges.
Newsom’s Stance
“We’re not Brown, we’re not Columbia, and I’m not going to be governor if we act like that,” Newsom said, referring to settlements the universities announced last month. “Period. Full stop, I will fight like hell to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Details of the Settlements
Columbia’s and Brown’s agreements included highly criticized payouts. Columbia will pay more than $200 million to the federal government and Brown will pay $50 million to Rhode Island workforce programs — in addition to promises to share admissions data with federal authorities. The Trump administration has accused elite universities, including UCLA, of illegally considering a person’s race when deciding whom to admit.
Criticisms and Concerns
Columbia also agreed to review its Middle Eastern studies programs and submit to an outside monitor to oversee whether it was following the settlement. Faculty have accused the university’s leaders of relenting on coveted higher education values of academic freedom independent of government or political influence.
UC’s Position and Newsom’s Influence
The remarks from Newsom were his first public comments about how UC should proceed with Trump, and the first indication — if vague — of how a UC settlement with Trump may or may not look. The university system, run by its president and Board of Regents, is independent under the state Constitution of “all political or sectarian influence.” At the same time, the governor can exercise political sway over the regents, whose members he appoints. Newsom also holds an ex-officio seat on the board.
Newsom’s Comments
Newsom, speaking in San Francisco, made the remarks during a media question-and-answer period after an event about artificial intelligence workforce partnerships the state announced with Google, Adobe, IBM and Microsoft. “There’s principles. There’s right and wrong, and we’ll do the right thing. This is about our competitiveness. It’s about the fate and future of this country. It’s about our sovereignty. It’s about so much more than the temperament of an aggrieved individual who happens to currently be president of the United States,” Newsom said.
UC’s Negotiations with the Trump Administration
Asked about UC’s negotiations, Newsom said, “They’ll do the right thing.” “I have the confidence and I’ll do everything in my power to encourage them 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.”
Response from UC and UCLA
UC and UCLA spokespeople did not immediately respond Thursday to a question about Newsom’s comments. UC President James B. Milliken said Wednesday that the university system was “agreeing to engage in dialogue with the federal administration” after the Department of Justice sent a letter to UC last week saying it found UCLA had violated the civil rights of Jewish students after activists erected a pro-Palestinian encampment in April 2024.
Impact of the Grant Suspensions
Milliken said the goal of negotiations was for all “suspended and at-risk federal funding restored to the university as soon as possible.” The grant suspensions affect research into areas including neuroscience, clean energy and cancer. The Justice Department and U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said on July 28 that 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.
Conclusion
The situation between UCLA, the Trump administration, and the state of California, as represented by Gov. Gavin Newsom, is complex and multifaceted. Newsom’s stance against bending to the Trump administration’s demands reflects a commitment to principles of academic freedom and the right to conduct research without undue political interference. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the future of research at UCLA and potentially at other universities facing similar challenges.
FAQs
- Q: What is the reason behind the Trump administration’s decision to freeze UCLA grants?
A: The Trump administration has accused UCLA of violating the civil rights of Jewish students, citing incidents of antisemitism. - Q: How much money is at stake in the frozen grants?
A: More than half a billion dollars in federal funding is affected by the grant suspensions. - Q: What is Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stance on the negotiations between UC and the Trump administration?
A: Newsom has stated that UC should not bend "on their knees" to the Trump administration and has expressed his commitment to fighting for what is right, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and sovereignty. - Q: What are the potential implications of the grant suspensions for research at UCLA?
A: The suspensions affect research in critical areas such as neuroscience, clean energy, and cancer, and could have a devastating impact on innovative work that contributes to the nation’s competitiveness, economy, and national security.
