The standoff between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Trump administration over frozen federal research grants to UCLA intensified Tuesday, as the White House signaled it is ready for a protracted fight.
“Bring it on, Gavin,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about Newsom’s vow to challenge the administration’s demands. On the line are $584 million in suspended federal grants, tied to research ranging from cancer treatments to brain science, that the administration has frozen pending sweeping changes at UCLA and a $1 billion payment.
The freeze followed federal findings alleging that UCLA violated the civil rights of Jewish students, engaged in illegal race-based admissions, and treated transgender students in sports, healthcare, and campus life in ways the administration claims undermine women’s rights. Leavitt insisted the government is acting within its legal authority and promised to share “a whole list of examples” of violations with Newsom’s office.
Newsom, in remarks last week, called the proposal “extortion” and “ransom” and said California would sue. A spokesperson for the governor responded to Leavitt’s comments by pointing to a pointed meme posted on X by Newsom’s press office. The graphic featured what appeared to be a North Korean news anchor with the caption: “Glorious leader is entitled to all treasures of the realm, especially from universities.”
In an earlier joint statement with state legislative leaders, Newsom accused President Trump of using the Department of Justice to punish California, “crush free thinking,” and undermine what he called “the greatest public university system in the world.”
The University of California Board of Regents convened an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the freeze but did not commit to a lawsuit. Newsom, a voting member of the 24-person board, did not attend. Meredith Turner, UC’s senior vice president of external relations, called the $1 billion demand “devastating” and said the university’s focus remains on protecting student access, academic freedom, and research excellence.
The halted grants — from agencies including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy — also fund graduate student stipends, tuition, and laboratory operations. If the freeze continues, UCLA administrators warn they may have to make layoffs and cut budgets.
In a letter to UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, the NSF accused the university of racism, antisemitism, and discrimination against women. Frenk disputed the allegations, writing that the penalty “does nothing to address any alleged discrimination” while jeopardizing critical research.
With neither side showing signs of compromise, the dispute now threatens to upend a cornerstone of UCLA’s scientific work — and sets the stage for a legal battle with national implications.
