Another Milliken Interview

UC President Milliken did one of his interviews, this time with Yale historian Beverly Gage, on July 9. The rationales for the interview were a) the 250th anniversary of American independence and b) the Yale report on higher education's standing in public opinion that has garnered national attention.

Professor Gage discusses a roadtrip around the USA to visit sites of historical significance (including Disneyland) and the significance of the Yale report. You can find the one-hour conversation at:

https://ia902809.us.archive.org/1/items/newsom-7-1-2026-savings-accounts-for-kids/Milliken-Gage%20interview%207-9-2026.mp4. [Audio with still picture.]

No Bond?

From the Bruin: A UC-sponsored California bill that would place a $12 billion research bond on the ballot will not appear in the November election, unless lawmakers reach an agreement. Senate Bill 895, which Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener proposed in January, would have created the California Foundation for Science and Health Research. The foundation would have distributed the $12 billion – accumulated through the sale of state bonds – to scientific research projects across the state. 

The bill made it through several legislative hurdles – passing a senate committee and then the chamber in May – but failed to make it to the State Assembly floor by the June 25 deadline for measures to qualify for the ballot. The bill had to pass in the Assembly and be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom by June 25 to qualify through the standard legislative timeline. However, it could still qualify if the state grants an extension...

UC President James Milliken said in a Thursday statement that he will continue to advocate for research support from the state. “Placing a bond on the ballot is always an ambitious undertaking — particularly so in California’s current fiscal environment,” he said in the statement...

Full story at https://dailybruin.com/2026/07/03/12-billion-uc-sponsored-research-bond-misses-deadline-to-appear-on-ballot.

Interview

UC President James Milliken was interviewed by Michelle Deutchman, director of the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Topics included Clark Kerr and the Master Plan for Higher Education, campus protests, academic freedom, recent reports on problems in higher education, and the conflict with the Trump administration.

You can hear the interview at:

https://archive.org/download/newsom-may-june-2026/UC%20Pres%20Milliken%20interviewed%20by%20Michelle%20Deutchman%206-30-2026.mp4.

Ka Ching!

UCOP is promoting the economic returns of a UC degree. From a recent news release:

New data shows UC degrees deliver strong earnings and economic mobility amid rapidly changing economy

UC Office of the President, July 1, 2026

The University of California released new data today that shows a UC degree remains one of the best investments California students and families can make.* The data highlights UC’s affordability, return on investment and strong earnings for graduates. The findings come amid ongoing conversations about the value of higher education in an era defined by artificial intelligence, rising living costs and a rapidly evolving job market.

The newly released data reveals that UC graduates carry significantly less student debt than their peers, with average debt levels for an in-state student declining $11,400 over the past decade — giving UC graduates greater financial flexibility as they enter the job market. Within seven years of graduation, median earnings among UC degree-holders exceed the median for California bachelor’s degree recipients, a combination that makes a UC education one of the strongest financial investments a student can make.

“Many Americans are questioning the value of a college degree. We have a clear answer: A UC degree is not only worth it — it changes lives and entire communities for the better,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “This recent data affirms our efforts to expand affordability and accessibility to students from across California, demonstrating how a UC education is both attainable and transformative.”

A University of California analysis reveals that UC graduates recoup their educational investment in roughly six years after enrolling at the University. In addition, most Pell Grant graduates surpass their families’ earnings within three years — two years faster than reported in a 2021 analysis, reinforcing how UC drives social and economic mobility...

Full story at https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/new-data-shows-uc-degrees-deliver-strong-earnings-and-economic-mobility.

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*https://www.ucop.edu/institutional-research-academic-planning/_files/updated-evidence-on-the-economic-benefits-of-a-uc-degree.pdf. This more detailed reference refers to data published in the Washington Post, an odd source. No link to the Washington Post article is provided. Poking around on the web, yours truly found a March 31 reference:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/31/graduate-degree-earnings-study/.

You have to read between the lines

University of California President James B. Milliken... issued the following statement on the 2026–27 final state budget:

I am grateful to Governor Newsom and the state legislature for their ongoing support of the University of California reflected in this budget. As the state continues to deal with a difficult financial environment, we share a fundamental belief with California leaders that our university is an engine for social and economic mobility, scientific and medical discovery, and patient care that serves every California community. 

The 7% increase from the state goes a long way toward fulfilling the compact and providing the funding necessary to educate and invest in our students. 

__________________________________

Translation: "Goes a long way toward fulfilling the compact" = Less than the "compact" promised.

__________________________________

This is especially important given the sustained attacks against UC and funding cuts by the federal government over the past 18 months. I want to specifically acknowledge and thank Governor Newsom for his unwavering support for the university throughout his tenure. His final budget again demonstrates his belief in the value of public higher education in California and in our hundreds of thousands of students, faculty, and staff.

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-statement-2026-27-final-state-budget.

Pleased with Bond

UC President James B. Milliken statement on the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026

June 26, 2026

“For many students and families, the challenge of attending college goes far beyond tuition and fees. It lies in the broader costs of attendance, of which housing is central. I’m grateful to the state Legislature for including housing for UC students in the affordable housing bond and to Governor Newsom for signing the legislation so Californians have a chance to vote for it on the November ballot. It’s a vital step we can take to support our students and all Californians.”

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-president-james-b-milliken-statement-veterans-and-affordable-housing-bond-act-2026.

July Discussion?

As blog readers will know, the systemwide Academic Senate is embarking on a study of admissions practices - including the idea of reintroducing the SAT - known as the "roadmap." Although the announcement of the roadmap appeared after a petition by STEM (and later non-STEM) faculty to return to the SAT, the plan for the roadmap was developed before the petition made the news. So it was not responsive to that petition.

When the roadmap was announced, UC President Milliken issued a statement:

University of California President James B. Milliken today (June 11) issued the following statement on the UC Academic Senate plan to review admissions policies:

The Board of Regents and University leadership take very seriously the critical issue of college preparedness, and the UC Academic Senate has proposed a comprehensive, data-driven review to support its recommendations to strengthen student readiness and success at UC. There are few things more important on our agenda. The faculty review will focus on both preparation and admissions, including whether standardized testing should be required. It’s important that UC gets this right. The UC Board of Regents and I will receive an update on the Academic Assembly’s work in July, and we look forward to considering the recommendations that emerge from this important work.

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-president-milliken-statement-academic-senate-plan-review-admissions-policies.

As blog readers will know, yours truly has suggested that an appropriate response to the faculty petition would be to do an accelerated study over the summer and have discussion with the Regents at their September meeting. That approach would have been truly responsive. Saying that the topic will be discussed in July sounds like a super-acceleration. But in fact, all that will be said in July is that there is a (non-responsive) roadmap in place that will require a full year of study. Realistically, what else could be said at a Regents meeting only a month away? Nothing will have happened other than the announcement of the (slow) roadmap.

Interview

UC President Milliken interviewed UCLA Chancellor Frenk on May 22nd. The interview did not get a lot of publicity. You can see it at the link below. Frenk discusses antisemitism, the wildfires, the Olympics, the conflict with the feds, and other topics.

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq-PYYp1WUc or https://ia601802.us.archive.org/14/items/newsom-may-june-2026/UC%20President%20Milliken%20in%20conversation%20with%20UCLA%20Chancellor%20Frenk%205-22-2026.mp4.

The May Revise

As noted in prior postings, yours truly is traveling so our analysis of the governor's May Revise budget was delayed. However, last Thursday, May 14th, the governor presented his revised budget proposal for the coming fiscal year, 2026-27. He will be termed out in January 2027 when the budget year is a little over 50% over, and his successor will have to deal with the rest of the year and come up with a budget plan for 2027-28.

The governor spent about an hour going over his proposal of which about 13 minutes was more devoted to his non-campaign for president in 2028. He then took about an hour for Q&A. 

Usually, in our past reviews of such proposals, we start with the macro and then go to the micro, i.e., UC. But let's do it in reverse this time. What about UC?

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

• Base Funding Augmentation—The May Revision maintains the proposed increase of $254.3 million ongoing General Fund, representing a 5-percent base increase for the fifth and final year payment of the Compact. The May Revision also maintains the proposed increase of $96.3 million ongoing General Fund to provide partial funding of the fourth year Compact payment as scheduled in the 2025 Budget Act.

• Compact Funding Deferral—The May Revision maintains the planned one-time deferral of the 2025-26 Compact investment of $240.8 million, representing a 5-percent base increase in the fourth year of the Compact, to 2027-28. The May Revision also maintains the planned one-time 2025-26 deferral of $31 million to offset revenue reductions associated with the replacement of 902 nonresident undergraduate students enrolled at three campuses with an equivalent number of California resident undergraduate students, from 2025-26 to 2027-28.

• One-Time Base Deferral—The May Revision maintains the proposed delay of a one-time repayment of $129.7 million, representing a deferral of a one-time 3-percent base increase from 2025-26, from 2026-27 to 2027-28.

• Foster Youth Support Services—An increase of $1.5 million one-time General Fund to support First Star Academy Youth Cohorts at UC campuses.

Source: https://ebudget.ca.gov/2026-27/pdf/Revised/BudgetSummary/HigherEducation.pdf.

Translation: We have a multi-year "compact" with UC but we won't actually pay what is due. Instead, we will keep deferring part of what is due to the future when there will be some new governor and a new legislature and they might or might not honor it. Compact is not the same as contract. The latter is enforceable. The former isn't.

Of course, everyone understands this point. But the game is played by UC thanking the governor and then seeking more from the legislature. From UC President Milliken:

I’m deeply grateful to Gov. Newsom for his thoughtful leadership and sustained support of the University of California over the years. The UC funding included in the May revision will help ensure that the university remains affordable and accessible to California students. As the University of California faces ongoing federal funding uncertainty and increasing operational and labor costs, state funding for UC is more important than ever.  

We will continue to advocate for the resources necessary to help our hundreds of thousands of students succeed, and to support the faculty and staff who deliver the teaching, research, and patient care that Californians expect and deserve. I look forward to working with Gov. Newsom and the Legislature in the coming weeks to achieve a state budget that fully funds UC and improves the lives of every Californian.

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-statement-gov-newsoms-2026-27-revised-budget-proposal.

How effective will the UC advocacy be? The governor's May Revise for UC is about what the proposal was in January, with some tidbits added.* So the governor wasn't much affected. We will have to see what the legislature does in the next few weeks.

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*See https://ebudget.ca.gov/budget/m/2026-27/Department/6440.

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What about the macro?

Enough extra revenue (revenue above projections) came in thanks to AI and stock market gains to lead to a modest surplus for the current fiscal year.** Next year, however, total reserves fall rather than rise, i.e., a deficit. That isn't what the governor said during his presentation. But that is what his numbers say.

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**There are various reserve accounts associated with the General Fund (GF). Yours truly had to estimate the changes in the Public School and Safety Net accounts using figures for 2024-25 as enacted to calculate the change in those accounts to 2025-26. LAO, which has more access to data, reports a slight deficit for the current year rather than a small surplus:

https://ebudget.ca.gov/reference/MultiYearProjection.pdf. 

LAO also reports projected deficits out to 2029-30:

https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5187.

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NOTE: The governor's May Revise news conference can be seen at:

https://ia601802.us.archive.org/14/items/newsom-may-june-2026/newsom%205-14-2026%20May%20revise.mp4.

Wait!

The Wall St. Journal ran an article about college waitlists for admission. Selective schools offer many rejected applicants the option of being on their waitlists.* Why not? Those rejected applicants who receive such offers will often accept waitlisted status unless they are completely happy with a school they did get into. But very few on the waitlist are accepted. At UC-Berkeley, as the chart above shows, the number who got in via the waitlist last fall was Zero.

UC President Milliken has talked about public discontent with higher ed with opaque admissions being one of the causes. A waitlist with a Zero probability - or even a close-to-zero probability - isn't likely to improve the situation.

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*https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/college-waitlists-national-decision-day-4cb7b5d8.

News while traveling

Yours truly is currently in transit. However, two items are in the news today:

1) The AFSCME strike is now off. A settlement was reached at the last minute. (It is not unusual for negotiations to conclude at deadlines.)

From the LA Times:

A strike that would have disrupted operations affecting thousands of University of California hospital patients and students was averted at the 11th hour Thursday morning after UC and leaders of 40,000 union members reached a tentative agreement, winning raises and capped healthcare costs for workers...

2) From the NY Times:

The University of California, Los Angeles, should toughen its approach to combating antisemitism, an internal committee recommended Thursday, after the Trump administration and many students and faculty members said it had not done enough to curb harassment of Jews on campus...

Some of the recommendations in Thursday’s report fall beyond U.C.L.A.’s authority. For example, the group suggested that the University of California as a whole consider using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism....

Dozens of American universities have adopted the definition, including Columbia and Harvard last year. In March, the University of California, Berkeley, agreed as a part of a legal settlement that it would continue to consider the definition and its examples “whenever investigating or assessing claims of discrimination or harassment against Jews or Israeli individuals.” The president of the University of California system, James B. Milliken, did not immediately commit to embracing the definition across its 10 campuses. But Mr. Milliken hailed U.C.L.A.’s efforts as “important and impressive” and said, “Antisemitism is antithetical to the core values of the University of California, and it is essential that we continue to demonstrate this principle through our policies and actions.” ...

Full story at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/us/ucla-considers-new-tactics-to-combat-antisemitism.html.

Milliken-Gillman-Chermerinsky on Free Speech and Academic Freedom Issues

The UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement sponsored a webinar-conversation on free speech and academic freedom on April 22, featuring UC President Milliken, UC-Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman, and Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chermerinsky. The three speakers were introduced by Center director Michelle Deutchman.

Below you can find an audio link to the program. The tendency was to focus on legal issues and the distinction between free speech and academic freedom. Yours truly would have preferred more emphasis on higher education values - not legal rights - of knowing what you are talking about before opining. But that's just me.

The one area of controversy that surfaced is the use of departmental political statements. Gillman indicated some reservation about where the Regents wound up on that issue, i.e., banning such statements if they appeared on the landing page of a department's website. He suggested that he would have gone further because such statements may impinge on the freedom of minority views. Milliken indicated that the issue might be revisited in the future. You can hear that exchange at the link below:

The entire one-hour event can be heard at:

https://ia801506.us.archive.org/0/items/newsom-03-04-2026/Milliken-Gillman-Chermerinsky%20free%20speech%204-22-2026.mp4. The excerpt above occurs around minute 27.

What Milliken said about AI, Trump administration, and TPM - Part 2

Back on April 11th, we posted the audio of what UC President Milliken had to say at a PPIC conference two days earlier on AI, Trump, and TPM.* 

There were others at the event that were not included.

PPIC has now gotten around to posting the entire event (all participants) on YouTube.

You can see it at the link below:

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDgsPRC0qcM.

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*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2026/04/what-milliken-said-about-ai-trump.html.

What Milliken said about AI, Trump administration, and TPM

On April 9th, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) held a lunch/conference on issues facing higher education.

The program was moderated by Tani Cantil-Sakauye, PPIC President and CEO (also former chief justice of the California Supreme Court). Guests were Sonya Christian, Chancellor, California Community Colleges, Mildred García, Chancellor, The California State University, James Milliken, President, University of California, and Kristen Soares, President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. 

In response to an initial question about the major challenges facing higher ed, Milliken said he told the Regents - when he was a candidate for his current position, that the two important challenges were the conflict with the Trump administration and adapting to AI. He said he now thinks the former is less an issue than the latter. 

Asked about campus free speech, he indicated that free speech had to be balanced against interference with the operation of the university, a point with which the moderator agreed.* You can hear what he said at the link below.

Or direct to https://ia601506.us.archive.org/0/items/newsom-03-04-2026/PPIC%20Higher%20Ed%20Event-Milliken%204-9-2026.mp4.

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*These conversations often focus on constitutional rights and other legalisms. The constitution, however, gives the same right to say that the Earth is flat as it does to say that the Earth is round. One of the values - not rights - of universities is that they are supposed to help you to know what you are talking about. It would have been nice if someone had pointed this out. So I just did.

Deletion

From the Daily Bruin: UCLA’s Chicana/o studies department unanimously voted Wednesday afternoon to remove César E. Chávez from its name following sexual abuse allegations against the labor leader. Raúl Hinojosa-Ojeda, the chair of the department of Chicana/o studies, said in an emailed statement that the department made the decision at an emergency meeting Wednesday. However, only Chancellor Julio Frenk and UC President James Milliken have the authority to rename UCLA properties and programs, according to University policy.

The Chicana/o studies department removed César E. Chávez from its name on its website as of Wednesday evening. However, Chávez remains on the website’s URL. The department also removed his name from its Instagram and plans to take it off any other online domains and places it has control over, Hinojosa-Ojeda said in an interview...

Full story at https://dailybruin.com/2026/03/19/uclas-chicana-o-studies-department-votes-to-remove-cesar-e-chavez-from-its-name.

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See our post about this matter of yesterday: https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2026/03/maybe-leaving-name-would-be-best.html.

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There is a not-so-nice history of making people who are out of favor disappear from history.* Maybe Chancellor Frenk and President Milliken would like to reflect on previous purges before making decisions.

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*https://historynet.com/from-blurring-imperfections-to-falsifying-reality-how-stalin-made-the-truth-disappear-through-photoshop/.

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And there is George Orwell's view of the future to help them reflect:

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UNC-GBSHuVg.

The less said, the better?

UC President Milliken gave a lengthy interview about various topics related to UC to the LA Times. It appeared yesterday, but apparently occurred before the most recent DOJ lawsuit was filed against UC:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-02/uc-president-james-milliken-interview.

Apparently, the Times would have liked less to be said:

"Milliken was more verbose on the role of higher education and his big-picture visions for UC."

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Regardless of the word count, this is what Milliken had to say about the current conflict with the feds and how UC is dealing with it:

https://ia601506.us.archive.org/0/items/newsom-03-04-2026/UC%20Pres%20Milliken%20on%20UC%20response%20to%20conflict%20with%20fedl%20govt%20posted%203-2-2026.mp4.

LAO Counsels Legislature to Save Added Revenue

As blog readers will know, Gov. Newsom's January budget proposal was based on more optimistic revenue forecasts than the Legislative Analyst Office was providing. But then current revenue seemed to be outpacing both the governor and the LAO forecast.

The LAO has not retreated from the idea that the outyears still contain a structural deficit, but it concedes that there is likely to be more revenue by the time of the May Revise than forecast. So it now is counseling the Legislature to put away the above-forecast revenue into reserves, i.e., save for a rainy day.* Note that some of the above-forecast revenue automatically ends up in K-14 due to Prop 98.

Whether saving for a rainy day will appeal to the legislature is another matter. As we have noted in prior postings on this blog, UC should be pushing to get its share.

One thing to note in that regard is that the LAO takes the view that paying down debt is an alternative to saving for a rainy day. And, in listing various debts the state has, it includes the deferral of a payment due under the "compact" with UC to 2027-28. Translated: The legislature could consider not deferring the payment and allocating the money now. That appears to be the position taken by UC President Milliken we noted yesterday.

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*https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5133.

Forgotten Website

UC has a website which is supposed to convey news of UC's conflict with the feds. The latest item on that website is a statement by UC President Milliken from last September. Things have happened since that time but there is no updating. It's not clear why. To see the absence of updates, go to:

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/federal-updates.

Compact Thanks

UC President Milliken is still thanking the governor but also asking the legislature for full "compact" funding. (See below.) That's wise. But the problem with the compact is that the legislature was not a party to it. Still, as we have been noting, revenue has been coming into the state treasury ahead of forecast estimates. So, making hay while the sun shines is appropriate.

UC President James B. Milliken urges state lawmakers to fuel economic growth through strategic investments in UC

UC Office of the President, News Release

In remarks... to the California State Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, UC President James B. Milliken expressed gratitude for Gov. Newsom’s January budget proposal, which includes $350 million in ongoing funding and a $130 million deferral restoration for the University. President Milliken acknowledged the vital role of state support for UC and advocated for a fully funded state compact to support the University’s record-breaking California resident enrollment.

President Milliken’s remarks acknowledged ongoing uncertainty with federal funding for UC. If UC were to lose federal research funds, the University would need $4 billion to $5 billion annually to sustain reduced core operations and research. President Milliken emphasized UC’s profound impact on California’s economy as the University continues to work with state and legislative partners ahead of the May budget revision.

Below are some key highlights from President Milliken’s remarks, as delivered: 

“(T)alent is universal — but opportunity is not. Higher education, particularly public higher education, is the best vehicle we know of to match talent with opportunity. When we’re successful, we achieve something truly meaningful. We become the best engine of social and economic mobility there is. We are able to change the trajectory of not only an individual, but of families and communities.”   

“The work that our community colleges, CSU, and UC do is changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Californians every day.”  

“UC’s health locations served patients from 99% of California ZIP codes last year; our research generates four inventions a day, fueling California’s leading industries; and the University employs more than 265,000 people, contributing $82 billion to the state’s economy. The breadth and depth of UC is unparalleled in higher education.”   

“The federal government continues to reduce its support of higher education and research. Federal policy changes and reductions to financial aid and student opportunity programs continue to threaten our ability to serve all Californians.”  

“Despite the declining federal support, UC’s impact continues to grow. We reached a remarkable milestone this past fall, enrolling more than 300,000 students for the first time in our history. This includes over 200,000 California resident undergraduates, also a record.” 

"The Governor is proposing an important step to fund both the final year of the Compact payment and a portion of the fourth-year payment. I’m hopeful we can build on this year’s progress to receive the full Compact funding.” 

“This proposal is a very positive first step. I’m grateful for the unwavering commitment the Governor and you, our legislative leaders, have shown to the students in the university that serves so many Californians.”  

“As stewards of UC in this critical moment in history, the Board of Regents, our talented faculty and staff, and I plan to meet the challenges together, guided by the values that have shaped UC across generations.”

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Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-president-james-b-milliken-urges-state-lawmakers-fuel-economic-growth-through.

Pot Boiler

Politico summarizes where things stand in the UC/UCLA conflict with the Trump administration:

President Donald Trump spent a good part of the year trying to bend elite universities to his will, cutting off federal funds as leverage. The assault left schools with a choice: Surrender or fight. But since the president put the University of California in his cross hairs, school officials have charted a decidedly different course. They have neither conceded defeat nor mounted a vigorous defense. Instead, they are watching as UC faculty members wage their own legal challenges against Trump, scoring early wins that so far have restored more than $580 million in scientific research funding the Trump administration stripped from UCLA.

With UC officials taking little overt action to resolve the crisis, the fight over UCLA funding has not progressed much in the months since it kicked off in July. While other high profile schools around the U.S. have either hammered out deals with the government to get Trump off their backs or dug in for protracted legal battles, UCLA goes into the new year with its future stuck in a seemingly open-ended limbo state. “There’s no evidence that any type of deal with the United States is going to be happening in the immediate future,” Abhishek Kambli, a Justice Department lawyer, said during a November court hearing in San Francisco.

...Federal science and health agencies quickly followed through on Bondi’s threat that UCLA would pay a “heavy price” for its alleged misdeeds, announcing they were withholding $584 million in research grants – more than half of the total researchers were slated to receive to fund their work. Days later, Justice officials proposed a deal to settle its case and restore the funding: UCLA would have to pay $1 billion in fines, $200 million more in legal payouts, and make sweeping reforms to limit campus protests, end scholarships based on race or ethnicity, and screen prospective international students for “anti-American” activity, among other changes.

...There has been little movement in negotiations since August, according to a UC official granted anonymity to discuss the deliberations. The realization that faculty had to stand up for themselves spurred Claudia Polsky, director of the environmental law clinic at UC Berkeley, into action even before the sweeping cuts to UCLA research. In June, Polsky led a first-of-its-kind class action lawsuit against the Trump administration, featuring researchers who had already seen their grant funding slashed...

In September, a coalition of faculty, staff, students and labor unions filed a second lawsuit over funding cuts hitting UCLA and other UC schools. In both cases, U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin granted preliminary injunctions, temporarily restoring the funding and restricting how the administration can suspend funding from the university. Last week, a federal appeals court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with some grant suspensions that were made prior to the sweeping UCLA research cuts... 

In a statement, UC spokesperson Stett Holbrook pushed back on the idea it had taken a path of inaction. He pointed to lawsuits UC joined this year challenging new limits the administration imposed on how much universities are reimbursed for facilities and administrative costs associated with research.

...The UC, which has 10 campuses, nearly 300,000 students and receives close to a tenth of all federal research funding, is significantly different from the smaller private schools that have struck deals. The UCs face much greater public scrutiny, amplified by being in a deep blue state where Democratic politicians are eager to be seen as resisting Trump. Any deal would likely require the blessing of Newsom, who has made clear that the UC should not give in. A settlement could negatively impact Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential bid that has gained traction as the governor – who is also a member of the regents – continues to cast himself as an antagonist to Trump. While Newsom has been kept in the loop, he is not involved in day-to-day talks and has not recently directly engaged with the rest of the regents, according to a person briefed on the discussions...

Full story at https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/28/uc-facultys-fight-with-trump-has-put-the-university-in-a-tough-spot-00694193.

Bottom line (at least as seen by yours truly): It remains unclear - based on the outlandish $1 billion demand - whether the Trump administration's goal is really a deal with UC/UCLA or whether it is just to keep the pot boiling.

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Noteworthy is the UC President's 2025 year-in-review wrap up which doesn't mention the conflict:

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRTxVYl0VY or https://ia800103.us.archive.org/6/items/united-we-can-yes-on-50-united-we-can-10-3-2025/UC%20wrap-up%20for%202025%2012-10-2025.mp4.