A federal judge has rebuked the Trump administration, ordering it not to threaten the University of California’s federal funding as part of a broader dispute over enforcement and oversight. The ruling—framed as an extraordinary check on federal pressure against elite public systems—could derail settlement talks and signals judicial skepticism about using funding threats to influence campus policy. At the same time, University of California campuses are feeling acute operational strain: staff spared from recent layoffs report heavier workloads, anxiety, and safety concerns. At UC San Diego, animal‑care technicians told reporters their caseloads rose sharply after cuts, raising compliance and morale alarms; university spokespeople point to federal funding disruptions and reduced animal censuses as drivers. Together the judicial ruling and on‑the‑ground staffing crises underscore a dual reality for public research systems: legal protection can be precarious even as internal operations buckle under budgetary and political pressure.