The United States administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles, following accusations of antisemitism and civil rights violations. The Department of Justice found that UCLA failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students, breaching federal civil rights laws, and subsequently froze $584 million in federal grants to the university. This marks the first time a state university faces such extensive funding restrictions over civil rights concerns related to antisemitism and affirmative action.

UCLA has faced criticism for its handling of campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with incidents of violence and reports of Jewish students being blocked from attending classes. The university recently agreed to pay $6 million to settle a separate case involving Jewish students and a professor, and has since introduced new protest guidelines and established a Campus and Community Safety Office. Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the administration's approach, arguing that it threatens academic freedom, while university officials warn the settlement could severely impact the broader University of California system.

The administration has previously negotiated settlements with private universities, including Brown and Columbia, and is using these agreements as models for other institutions. UCLA's settlement also includes contributions to organizations fighting antisemitism and new initiatives led by Chancellor Julio Frenk to address bias and discrimination on campus.