Some of the executive orders and proposed policy changes by President Donald Trump have threatened the institution’s “lifesaving research, patient care, and education support,” Drake said. On the state level, the 2025-26 California budget is poised to cut the UC’s funding by $271 million.

Those are some of the impacts officials fear will result from an across-the-board hiring freeze announced Wednesday by the 10-campus University of California in response to threatened cuts in federal funding and worries about state budget support. But given those uncertainties, UC leaders said they had no choice but to act now to conserve funds.

The decision ends a UC practice requiring job applicants to submit written testimonials about how they have worked to enhance diversity.