California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) pushed back after it was discovered the Trump administration is aiming for a $1 billion settlement with the University of California, Los Angeles. "Donald Trump has weaponized the DOJ to kneecap America's #1 public university system " freezing medical & science funding until @UCLA pays his $1 billion ransom," the press office for the governor posted on the social platform X. "California won't bow to Trump's disgusting political extortion," it added. The Trump administration is demanding the money, with other concessions such as changing admission and hiring policies, in order to release more than $500 million in frozen funds and allow the institution to apply for federal grants again.