Trump Administration Cancelled $2 Billion in University of California Grants

Federal agencies admitted in court filings that they used keyword screening—targeting terms such as diversity, gender, COVID-19, structural racism, and health equity—to terminate more than 1,000 research grants at the University of California. The Donald Trump administration cancelled nearly $2 billion in total funding, with the National Institutes of Health suspending over 1,000 grants, including nearly 700 at UCLA. Other actions included the Department of Transportation terminating six grants worth $42 million and the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office terminating 283 grants in states that voted for Kamala Harris.

In the lawsuit Thakur v. Trump, plaintiffs argue these actions violated the First Amendment and punished researchers based on political affiliations. Court documents suggest the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk in 2025, may have utilized artificial intelligence to identify and target these grants. While the United States Environmental Protection Agency is currently settling with UC professors, other agencies remain embroiled in the litigation.

Federal District Judge Rita F. Lin has issued preliminary injunctions to restore some of the cancelled funding. A hearing is scheduled for October 20 to determine if the White House violated the constitution.