“The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge had blocked the government’s $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations.

“In a Wednesday filing with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Department of Justice lawyers asked judges to dismiss an appeal it filed last month seeking to reverse a lower court decision. The November ruling — a major victory for UC workers who sued — had stalled the fine and a 27-page settlement document outlining Trump administration demands to push the university ideologically rightward.

“The settlement proposal called for sweeping changes at UCLA — and by extension all of UC — including a ban on diversity-related scholarships, restrictions on foreign student enrollment, a declaration that transgender people do not exist, an end to gender-affirming health care for minors, limits on free speech, and nearly unfettered sharing of personnel data with the government.

“The Trump administration sent the proposal and demand for payment to UC leaders Aug. 8, about 10 days after freezing $584 million in federal research funding to the campus. The government said it suspended the funds because UCLA broke the law by using race as a factor in admissions, recognizing transgender people’s gender identities, and by not taking antisemitism complaints seriously during pro-Palestinian protests in 2024.”

“Dozens of UC faculty groups and unions sued to win the preliminary injunction. UC is not a party to the case. Officials say the system cannot afford the fine, and have declared that they are willing to engage in talks with the Trump administration.

“The government’s decision to drop the appeal — less than a month after filing it — does not mean it is stopping its pursuit of the University of California, the largest public university system to face a torrent of investigations since the White House launched a campaign against campuses it sees as too reliant on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, foreign students and leftist ideas.

“The UCLA case will continue to be litigated in federal district court, where it is currently in the discovery process and could eventually move to trial.”

“UC Irvine law professor Veena Dubal, who is general counsel for plaintiff American Assn. of University Professors, celebrated the DOJ action.

“The Trump administration’s decision to not appeal this preliminary injunction means that for the foreseeable future, they cannot use civil rights laws or federal funding as a cudgel to remake the UC in its ideological image,” Dubal said.”

Trump administration drops appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement that would have ended gender-affirming health care for minorsand declared trans people do not exist