UCLA Federal Grants Suspended Over Antisemitism Probe

The Trump administration suspended $584 million in federal research grants to UCLA after finding the university failed to address antisemitic incidents during 2024 pro-Palestinian protests, violating civil rights laws. The suspension affects funding from major agencies, including the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, and follows a Department of Justice investigation citing 'deliberate indifference' toward Jewish and Israeli students' safety and rights. UCLA, which recently settled a $6 million lawsuit with students and a professor over alleged discrimination, denies wrongdoing and asserts its commitment to combating antisemitism. University leaders warn the freeze threatens critical research and education, and are negotiating to restore the grants. The move is unprecedented for a public university and has ignited debate over academic freedom and the definition of antisemitism in the context of campus protests. Rights advocates and university officials argue the cuts could undermine research and free speech without resolving the underlying issues of discrimination.