Gavin Newsom on Thursday threatened to cut billions in state funding from the University of Southern California if it complies with a Trump administration request to impose the president’s political priorities on campus. Newsom responded with his own ultimatum: sign the White House request, and “instantly” lose state funding, including CalGrants, the $2.4 billion in annual state-funded scholarships for California students. It was not immediately clear how much state funding USC receives, including in CalGrants scholarships. In the 2024 fiscal year USC got $1.35 billion in federal funding — $650 million in student financial aid and $569 million for research. The university cut budgets and froze hiring in March in part over a persistent deficit and uncertainty surrounding federal funding.