UC draws red lines in talks with Trump

Unlike Newsom, university leaders emphasize a possible settlement, not a suit.

- BY JAWEED KALEEM

MARIO TAMA Getty Images EVEN AS UC leaders focus on negotiating with the Trump administration over the fine against UCLA, a lawsuit is not off the table.

Top UC leaders will attempt to negotiate a settlement with the federal government and have identified guardrails to protect the nation's premier public university system after the Trump administration cut more than half a billion dollars in UCLA research grants and demanded a $1-billion fine to atone for antisemitism, according to high-placed UC officials.

The talks with the Justice Department are just beginning and so far involve 10 of the 24 UC regents, including board Chair Janet Reilly and UC President James B. Milliken. The group held its first publicly announced meeting last week after an emergency convening of all regents Aug. 11.

The negotiations come amid a volatile political backdrop as Gov. Gavin Newsom takes on President Trump in a high-stakes redistricting fight over congressional control and unleashes an audacious social media strategy of Trump-directed insults. In response to actions against UCLA, Newsom publicly announced, "We'll sue" — and called the demands "extortion" and "ransom," saying California will not "bend the knee" to Trump.

But the decision to go to court and the negotiation strategy rest with UC leaders and regents, who operate independently under the state Constitution. Newsom, however, is an ex-officio board member with voting power and influence.

The Justice Department last month set a Sept. 2 deadline, saying it is also ready to sue if there is not “reasonable certainty” that the sides can reach an agreement.

The department did not respond to inquiries from The Times about the status of its suit.