UCLA/UC Throws in the Towel - Part 2 (reflections)

As blog readers will know, UCLA/UC - after resisting a Public Records Act request - finally released the lengthy memo from the feds to UCLA/UC indicating what UCLA should do to get its funding restored. (I am assured that this is the full memo that was previously leaked.)

What we don't have is context, i.e., what was said by whom when this particular item was presented to UCLA/UC. (I am using "UCLA/UC" because it appears that decisions on the university side are being made at systemwide level, at the Regents, and even at the governor's office, not at the campus level.)

One thing that can be seen from the document is that it is marked "draft." That marking suggests that it was presented as a kind of official wishlist by the feds, but something that could be discussed or modified by negotiation. 

Independent of what went to UCLA/UC, other universities received offers of a deal they could make with the feds. Most rejected the deal. Even the University of Texas' seemingly positive response was more in the vein of we are honored to be asked - as opposed to "Where do we sign?"

When you put all this together, my guess is that the wishlist and the deal will evolve into a kind of semi-official rating of universities by the feds. In effect, universities will be graded by how many of the various points they put into practice "voluntarily" and that grade will determine the likelihood of future grants or grant renewals. (You might recall UCLA Chancellor Frenk saying in an interview, for example, that UCLA doesn't have biological males on women's teams because of NCAA rules.) Of course, there could be legal challenges, but it will be harder to be successful in litigation over future grants than it is when existing contracts are voided by the feds.

In addition, UCLA/UC is a special case because of the $1+ billion demand. It's not clear, given that demand, how serious the feds are in negotiating because the magnitude is so large. Maybe, just maybe, they really don't want a deal with UCLA/UC at this point. There is the complication of Gov. Newsom's de facto presidential campaign and his high profile attacks on Trump. The governor, of course, is an ex officio Regent and, in his political role, he has much to do with the UC budget allocation from the state.

Most recently, Newsom has been criticizing anyone, including universities, that make deals with the Trump administration:

Or direct to https://x.com/gavinnewsom/status/1981167057959080225 or https://ia600103.us.archive.org/6/items/united-we-can-yes-on-50-united-we-can-10-3-2025/newsom%2010-22-2025%20Knee%20pads%20for%20CEOs%2C%20universities%2C%20law%20firms.mp4.

In effect for now, the equation is $1 billion + governor = no deal, apart from any other considerations.