Judge Orders Restoration of $500M+ UC Research Grants

U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin on Sept. 22–23 issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Trump administration and multiple federal agencies to restore more than $500 million (reported variously as $500M–$584M) in federally funded research grants to UCLA and other University of California campuses while a class-action lawsuit proceeds. The suspended funds include major awards from NIH as well as grants from NSF, the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation and others, which were paused after the administration accused UC campuses of tolerating antisemitism amid pro‑Palestinian protests and of engaging in race- or gender-based practices. Judge Lin found the mass terminations were issued via “unreasoned form letters,” likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional protections, and reflected arbitrary, capricious and viewpoint‑discriminatory action. The order expands earlier rulings that restored tens of millions in UC grants, temporarily averts potential layoffs, lab closures and other damage to federally funded medical, environmental and social‑science research, and requires the Justice Department to file papers explaining compliance while the case continues. The administration had earlier conditioned restorations on reported demands — including a $1 billion settlement and policy changes — which UCLA has rejected.