Trump administration sues UC over alleged antisemitism against employees
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the University of California (UC) on Feb. 24 for allegedly allowing a “hostile work environment against Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff” at UC Los Angeles. The lawsuit alleges that the University violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion and other identities.
According to a DOJ press release, the lawsuit is in response to actions during UCLA’s pro-Palestinian encampment. The lawsuit continues by alleging that antisemitism towards Jewish and Israeli faculty persists on campus.
“Jews were not permitted on portions of the main quad, Jewish professors were assaulted, and swastikas were graffitied on university buildings,” a DOJ press release read. “Jewish and Israeli faculty have been physically threatened, had their classrooms disrupted, and had their workplaces papered with disturbing images.”
In a statement to The New York Times, UCLA Vice Chancellor Mary Osako said the University has “taken concrete and significant steps to strengthen campus safety, enforce policies and combat antisemitism in a systemic and sustained manner.”
The lawsuit comes after the DOJ dropped its appeal against the court order blocking its proposed $1.2 billion settlement with UCLA on Feb. 11.
All UC campuses agree to send alerts for immigration enforcement activity on campus
According to the Daily Bruin, every UC campus has agreed to implement Senate Bill 98, which requests schools from K-12 to postsecondary institutions to send out alerts of confirmed immigration enforcement activities on campuses.
State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez authored the Sending Alerts to Families in Education (S.A.F.E.) Act, which Newsom signed into law last September. The bill applies to the UC, California State University system and California Community Colleges. According to a bill analysis, the UC can implement these alerts because it is “a public trust with constitutional autonomy.”
Pérez told the Daily Bruin that every UC campus has affirmed it will set up an alert system. At a Jan. 26 meeting, UCLA Associate Vice Chancellor Steve Lurie said the University has created an email system for S.A.F.E. notifications. Notifications will only be sent out after the UC Police Department confirms it is immigration enforcement, meaning there will be no warnings before federal agents are on campus.
A Feb. 19 meeting at UC Berkeley discussed similar parameters for the notification system. Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion Fabrizio Mejia said the University wants to report sightings without inciting fear and will use several sources to confirm enforcement activity.
President Milliken presents to California State Assembly, discusses importance of state support
University of California (UC) President James B. Milliken urged the California State Assembly to continue investing in the university at a Feb. 18 meeting. Milliken also thanked Governor Gavin Newsom for including a $350 million increase to UC funding in his January budget proposal.
Changes in federal funding and policy within the past year were also discussed at the meeting. Despite these changes, the UC reached its largest-ever enrollment during Fall 2025 with a total of 301,093 students. Milliken told the assembly’s Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance that the UC would need more state support to offset the uncertainty caused by these federal developments.
“I stepped into this role last summer a few days earlier than originally planned when the federal government suspended almost $600 million in research funding from UCLA. Each of our campuses and the UC system as a whole have been the subject of numerous federal investigations and enforcement actions,” Milliken said during his opening remarks. “Given these challenges and opportunities, state support has never been more important.”
Other developments discussed include rising operational costs and the continuation of the 2022 compact between the UC and the state.
UC Berkeley social welfare graduate students continue tuition strike
Last month, graduate students in UCB’s Social Welfare program began a tuition strike after two union lecturers were laid off. According to a letter sent by the striking students, the decision was also related to tuition increases and budget cuts.
The letter also stated the strike is a “last resort” after months of conversations with administrators within the social welfare department. UCB spokesperson Janet Gilmore told the Daily Californian that campus policies regarding non-payment will still apply to the striking students.
Per University policy, its Billing and Payment Services can place a hold on a student’s registration and diploma if they owe $100 or more 60 days past the due date. Since the strike began on Jan. 19, the last day a student could withdraw without paying tuition, students have until March 20 before the policy takes effect.
A version of this article appeared on p. 2 of the Feb. 26, 2026 edition of the Daily Nexus.
