California Gov. Gavin Newsom has already wagged his finger at the Trump White House for demanding “ransom” and changes to the admissions and hiring policies. The federal administration, in return, would unfreeze more than $500 million in frozen federal grants.

The Department of Justice’s proposed $1 billion fine to the University of California at Los Angeles over alleged antisemitism was met with fighting words by the state’s Democrat governor. Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened to sue the Trump administration Friday, describing the fine as “extortion,” KQED reports.

The University of California says it is reviewing a $1 billion settlement offer by the Trump administration for UCLA after the government froze hundreds of millions of dollars in funding over pro-Palestinian protests.