UCLA Funding Freeze: Civil Rights Allegations Spark Controversy

The Trump administration has taken the drastic measure of freezing $339 million in research grants to the University of California, Los Angeles, amid accusations of civil rights violations. Allegations include antisemitism, affirmative action breaches, and issues related to women's sports. This decision, according to insiders, marks a rare federal intervention targeting a public university.

Various federal agencies have suspended significant funding, with $240 million affected from the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. The administration's actions follow findings from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, which accused UCLA of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students under the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk criticized the government's move, emphasizing the adverse impact on life-changing research. The Department of Energy alleged that the school attempted race-based admissions via factors like family income. UCLA committed to addressing discrimination claims but expressed concern over the severe penalties and loss of research funding.

(With inputs from agencies.)