UC employees sue Trump over cuts, penalty against UCLA

Faculty and staff say government's actions are 'financial coercion' and unconstitutional.

- BY JAWEED KALEEM

GENARO MOLINA Los Angeles Times PEOPLE STAND at the top of Janss Steps on the UCLA campus. The federal government has cut funding.

A group of 21 unions and faculty associations representing more than 100,000 University of California employees sued President Trump on Tuesday, alleging he is illegally forcing "ideological dominance" over a UC education, has violated the Constitution and endangered jobs by suspending research grants and seeking a $1.2-billion fine against UCLA.

The suit, filed in federal court in San Francisco for the Northern District of California, alleges that the government's actions against UCLA and the UC system violate employees' free speech and due process rights.

The Department of Justice which has accused UCLA of not doing enough to stop campus antisemitism is demanding an overhaul of UCLA policies on hiring, admissions, sports, scholarships, diversity and gender identity.

The suit also claims the government has violated the 10th Amendment, which says powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for states and the American people. The Trump administration is attempting to "take over day-to-day management" of UC via "coercion" by threatening to cut into the system's $17 billion in annual federal funding if it does not conform to demands, the suit alleges.

A Department of Justice spokesperson declined to comment.

The action is the second suit against the Trump administration filed independently by UC faculty and workers on behalf of colleagues as they aim to reverse federal grant cuts and block government demands to push UC's mission and values to the right on race, diversity, LGBTQ+ communities and immigration.