Trump Administration Drops Appeal of Order Blocking UC Funding Cutoffs

The move comes after a federal judge ruled last year that the administration lacked justification for cutting grants to UC researchers.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Trump administration has decided to drop its appeal of a federal judge's ruling that blocked the administration from cutting off grants to University of California researchers. Last June, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin of San Francisco ruled that the administration was cutting off the grants without proper justification.

Why it matters

The decision to drop the appeal represents a victory for the University of California, which had challenged the administration's move to cut off funding for its research programs. The ruling preserves critical grant funding for UC researchers working on a wide range of important scientific and medical projects.

The details

In her June 2026 ruling, Judge Lin found that the Trump administration had failed to provide a reasoned explanation for its decision to cut off grants to UC researchers. The administration had argued the move was necessary due to the state's sanctuary policies, but the judge determined this rationale was arbitrary and capricious.

  • In June 2026, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin of San Francisco ruled against the Trump administration's plan to cut off grants to UC researchers.
  • The Trump administration has now decided to drop its appeal of Judge Lin's ruling.

The players

U.S. District Judge Rita Lin

A federal judge in San Francisco who ruled against the Trump administration's plan to cut off grants to UC researchers.

University of California

The public university system that challenged the Trump administration's move to cut off funding for its research programs.

Trump administration

The former presidential administration that had sought to cut off grants to UC researchers, but has now dropped its appeal of a federal judge's ruling blocking that action.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This decision represents an important victory for the University of California and the researchers whose critical work will continue to be funded, despite the Trump administration's efforts to cut off that support.