UCLA’s motto is more than a call to enlightenment; it is a commitment to seek knowledge, foster civic responsibility, and serve humanity with vision and purpose. Fiat Lux became part of your story when you became a Bruin. Today, your voice is essential in protecting it.
A Moment of Unprecedented Challenge
Recent federal actions threaten to undermine the foundations of America’s world-leading research universities. These changes — some enacted, others still pending — risk the values that drive progress: critical funding for research, access to global talent, and the freedom to explore, discover and innovate.
At UCLA, we are already experiencing the destructive effects. Budget constraints, canceled research projects/clinical trials, and uncertainty for our international students and scholars are not distant threats — they are present realities. The heartbeat of higher education, discovery and social mobility are at stake.
UCLA’s Research: Fueling Progress and Public Good
For decades, UCLA has been a trusted partner of the federal government, advancing knowledge and delivering breakthroughs that benefit the nation, including life-saving medical innovations, AI ethics, climate solutions and objective, unbiased public policy.
UCLA research has driven advancements in cancer treatment, pioneered low-cost clean energy technologies and contributed to reducing economic inequality through data-informed policy reform. These discoveries depend on consistent federal investment, global collaboration and the American people's trust.
A Partnership in Jeopardy
Unfortunately, recent federal decisions have disrupted this crucial partnership, the historic and productive alliance between federal government and higher education. Federal actions have abruptly halted important research, stalled grant review cycles, restricted freedom of inquiry, and created uncertainty that instills fear in the lives of students, scholars and staff who are vital to our excellence. Let me be clear: Our immigrant and international community members are essential to UCLA. We support them wholeheartedly.
While the courts could reverse some of the federal actions imposed to date, there is great concern that the damage to the current research enterprise could be irreparable or take decades from which to recover.
To address the many challenges confronting higher education in our nation today, I joined over 500 university leaders in signing a joint letter from the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the American Council on Education. Together, we urge policymakers to preserve the partnership between government and universities — one that drives innovation, strengthens national security and expands opportunity.
Send a Message: Phone or email your representatives directly or use a customizable online form such as this NIH-focused one. Please note that we will provide updated resources as they are available.
UCLA’s continued excellence relies on our ability to attract and retain global talent, maintain strong federal partnerships, and foster an environment of academic freedom and inclusion. Meeting this moment requires strategic focus, active engagement and a shared commitment to the university’s future. As Coach John Wooden once said:
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
While we may have differing positions within our political landscape, saving the University of California, the crown jewel of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, unites us. This university, an essential component in making our state the world’s fourth largest economy, is critical to the health, safety and prosperity of all of us.
Now is a time for action. I invite you to join us in advocating for the values that have long defined UCLA — and in securing the resources necessary for it to thrive in the years ahead.
