Nurses Fight Back: UC Medical Centers in the Crosshairs of Trump's Ideological War

The University of California (UC) system, a beacon of academic and medical excellence, finds itself in the eye of a political storm. The California Nurses Association (CNA), representing 25,000 registered nurses across UC medical centers, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit, filed on September 16, 2025, is a historic coalition effort involving various labor unions representing workers at UC campuses, medical centers, and research laboratories. The nurses are fighting back against what they see as coercive attempts by the Trump administration to remake the UC system in alignment with the president's ideology.

Maureen Dugan, a registered nurse at UCSF Parnassus and a member of the CNA Board of Directors, expressed the nurses' resolve: "As union nurses, we always speak up when our patients are needlessly and senselessly prevented from receiving the care they need. We refuse to stand by as the Trump administration attempts to tell UC nurses how to provide care for our patients or tries to make our hospitals unsafe for our patients!"

The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration is illegally coercing the UC to engage in speech and behavior that violates the First Amendment. Among the many concerning demands placed on the UC, nurses are gravely concerned about any agreement that would lead to forced cooperation with immigration enforcement, which could include giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to UC hospitals. Additionally, there are efforts to target gender-inclusive policies, which could include threatening gender-affirming care for minors.

Dugan further elaborated on the broader implications: "In addition to attacking our most vulnerable patients, the funding cuts that Trump is threatening risk UC nurses’ ability to care for all the Californians who come to our medical centers for world-class care. These cuts also undermine the economic engine that is the UC, the second-largest employer in the state. Simply put, Trump’s coercive tactics against the UC are not about improving the lives of working people. It is a transparent attempt to expand Trump’s power by quashing this public good."

The lawsuit is a coalition effort led by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and includes a wide array of labor unions representing UC workers. The coalition aims to stop the Trump administration's coercive tactics, which include threats of unlawful federal government funding cuts. The lawsuit represents a historic coalition of national and California labor unions, who charge that the U.S. federal government is illegally coercing the UC to engage in speech and behavior, in violation of the First Amendment.

The stakes are high. The UC system receives about $6 billion annually in federal funds for research and other program supports, with the National Institutes of Health being the largest source. Additionally, it gets more than $8 billion through Medicare and Medicaid for patient care. Cuts to these funds would not only affect the university's operations but also reduce economic activity in the state. As UC President Michael Drake noted, "Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid... would have significant impacts on the UC Health enterprise and on the patients we serve."

The lawsuit highlights the potential for long-term operational inefficiencies. The Trump administration's demands could lead to significant changes in how UC medical centers operate, including potential restrictions on protest and other expressive activities, disclosure of student disciplinary records, and elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. These changes could create a more restrictive and less inclusive environment, which could negatively impact the morale and productivity of staff and faculty. Additionally, the legal battle itself could divert resources away from core operations, further straining the financial stability of the medical centers.

The economic repercussions for the state of California could be severe and far-reaching. The UC system is the second-largest employer in the state, and any significant reduction in funding or hiring freeze could lead to job losses. For instance, the California Nurses Association (CNA) represents 25,000 registered nurses at UC medical centers across the state. If funding cuts lead to layoffs, this could have a ripple effect on the local economies where these medical centers are located, affecting businesses and services that depend on the spending power of these employees.

The lawsuit filed by the CNA and other labor unions could have immediate operational disruptions and long-term financial and operational challenges for UC medical centers. The outcome of the lawsuit will be crucial in determining the extent of these impacts and the future stability of the medical centers. The nurses' fight is not just about their jobs; it's about the future of healthcare in California and the integrity of academic freedom.