Trump Administration Freezes $200M UCLA Research Funding Over Antisemitism Allegations

The Trump administration has frozen approximately $200 million in federal research funding to UCLA, citing the university's failure to adequately address antisemitism on campus and allegations of race discrimination in admissions. This action follows increased antisemitic incidents reported by Jewish and Israeli students after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent campus protests. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice accused UCLA of 'deliberate indifference' toward these incidents, which led to the suspension of grants from agencies including the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk condemned the funding freeze as harmful not only to the university but also to Americans reliant on its research, emphasizing that federal grants support vital medical and scientific advancements. The university recently settled a lawsuit with Jewish students regarding a 'Jew Exclusion Zone' created during pro-Palestinian protests, while pro-Palestinian groups argue that the administration's actions suppress free speech and unfairly target supporters of Palestinian freedom. The funding suspension is part of a broader Trump administration campaign addressing alleged discrimination and antisemitism at elite universities nationwide.