🏛️ POLITICS · 🎓 EDUCATION · ⚖️ JUSTICE

University financing: the Government will appeal the daily fine of $100,000 for failing to comply with the precautionary measure

The Casa Rosada confirmed that it will appeal the sanction ordered by federal judge Martín Cormick against the Chief of Staff. He questioned the magistrate, while the CIN celebrated the measure and the universities return to the streets today.

✍️ Newsroom · 📅 Thursday, October 15, 2026 · ⏱️ Reading time: 6 min

🖼️ Cover image of the original coverage. Credit: Diario Huarpe

The national government confirmed on Wednesday, October 14, that it will appeal the daily fine of $100,000 imposed by the Justice for not complying with the precautionary measure linked to the University Financing Law. The sanction, ordered by Federal Judge Martín Cormick, falls on the head of the Chief of Cabinet – according to different media reports, Diego Santilli – and opens a new instance in a conflict that is settled both in the courts and in the streets.

📌 IN 30 SECONDS

💸 The fine: $100,000 for each day of non-compliance, addressed to the head of the Chief of Staff.

⚖️ The reason: Judge Cormick considered the non-compliance with a firm precautionary measure on salaries and scholarships (Articles 5 and 6 of Law 27,795) verified.

🏛️ The official reaction: the government will appeal and questioned the magistrate; sources from Casa Rosada linked him to La Cámpora.

🎓 The universities: the CIN valued the sanction as a precedent and demands that the law be complied with.

🚶 Today: fifth Federal University March throughout the country.

🧭 In this article

• ⚖️ The judge's decision: $100,000 per day

• 🏛️ The Government's response: appeal and criticism of the magistrate

• 🎓 The view of universities

• 📜 What does Law 27,795 establish and why is it in dispute?

• 🗓️ Timeline of the conflict

• 🚶 Federal March and Measures of Force

• ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

• 🔮 What can happen now

⚖️ The judge's decision: $100,000 per day

In his resolution, Cormick – head of the Federal Administrative Court No. 11 – understood that there is a "verified non-compliance" with the precautionary measure and resolved to make effective the warning he had ordered on September 30, 2026. Consequently, he applied daily astreintes to the official of the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The astreintes are injunction economic sanctions: they do not seek to compensate, but to pressure the obligor to comply with what a judge ordered. The magistrate stated that the precautionary measure "continues to be active, firm and mandatory" and warned that the amount and the officials reached could be modified if the non-compliance persists.

The measure orders the recomposition and updating of the salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff of public universities and to guarantee the funds allocated to student scholarships. The case is processed under file 39.475/2025 and was promoted by the National Interuniversity Council (CIN) and other parties against the National State.

🏛️ The Government's response: appeal and criticism of the magistrate

The Executive announced that it will appeal the decision with the aim of annulling the sanction. As reported, its proposal maintains that there was no deliberate omission; in addition, the Government has maintained for weeks that, with the increases applied, it is advancing in compliance with the precautionary measure.

Along with the appeal, the Casa Rosada harshly questioned the judge. Official sources affirmed that he is a magistrate who repeatedly rules against the management of Javier Milei, who "has a past and friends in La Cámpora" and recalled that he had tried to declare the anti-picketing protocol null and void. They also described him as former head of the General Inspectorate of Justice and former general syndic of PAMI during the administration of Luana Volnovich.

Important: these are statements by government spokesmen. In the coverage consulted, no evidence was disseminated to support them or a response from the magistrate.

🎓 The view of universities

The president of the CIN, Franco Bartolacci, welcomed the resolution. He explained that the body had notified the judge of the expiration of the deadline without complying with the precautionary measure and that, therefore, it had requested the application of fines. For the leader, the relevant thing is not only that a daily sanction be set, but that specific responsibilities be established.

Bartolacci warned that the conflict is not yet resolved because the judicial process continues, but described the decision as "a very important step that we value." For the CIN, the fine ratifies that the law is not being complied with.

📜 What does Law 27,795 establish and why is it in dispute?

The Law on the Financing of University Education and Recomposition of Teacher Salary was approved by Congress in 2025 and ratified by both chambers after President Milei's veto. The Executive enacted it through decree 759/2025, but conditioned its application on Congress determining the sources of financing and incorporating the items into the budget.

The judicial discussion focuses on articles 5 and 6: the first contemplates the salary update of teachers and non-teachers (with the recomposition period ranging from December 2023 to September 2025) and the second, the recomposition of student scholarship programs. The Government argues that applying it without first defining its financing would affect the fiscal balance; the Justice dismissed this proposal in the previous instances.

🗓️ Timeline of the conflict

• December 2025: Cormick issues the injunction at the request of the CIN and the universities.

• March 2026: The Federal Administrative Court confirms the precautionary measure and rejects the official appeal.

• June 25, 2026: The Supreme Court rejects the Executive's extraordinary appeal for not being directed against a final judgment; the precautionary measure remains final.

• September 22: The judge orders the State to comply within five days, under threat of applying astreintes.

• End of September: the Government appeals the summons; on September 30 the warning is ordered.

• October 14: The fine of $100,000 per day becomes effective and the Government confirms that it will appeal.

• October 15: Fifth Federal University March.

🚶 Federal March and Measures of Force

The news coincides with the fifth Federal University March, called for this Thursday, October 15. The executive committee of the CIN met in the Cabildo of Buenos Aires to demand compliance with the law and call for mobilization, with replicas in different cities of the country, such as Santa Fe and Posadas.

At the union level, the University Trade Union Front denounced that, in the face of a salary demand of 31.2%, the Government proposed a 3% increase, and carried out a strike in unity throughout the system. In Rosario, the Coad union decided to stop on the 15th and will take to Conadu the motion for a strike for an indefinite period of time.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the fine and how long does it run?

It is $100,000 for each day of non-compliance. The judge warned that the amount and the officials reached could be modified if the delay continues.

Who must pay it?

The sanction is aimed at the official of the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, a position that, according to the media consulted, is occupied by Diego Santilli.

Why is the Government appealing?

He seeks to annul the astreintes. He maintains that there was no deliberate omission and that he advances in compliance with the increases applied, and questions the impartiality of the judge.

What exactly does the precautionary measure require?

Recompose and update the salaries of university teachers and non-professors and guarantee funds for student scholarships (Articles 5 and 6 of Law 27,795).

Does the appeal stop the fine?

The notes consulted do not specify whether the appeal suspends the sanction. That will depend on what the judge himself or the Court of Appeals resolves.

🔮 What can happen now

• The conflict will continue in the judicial sphere with the processing of the appeal announced by the Executive; no deadlines for its resolution were reported.

• If the non-compliance persists, the judge could adjust the amount of the astreintes or increase the number of officials reached.

• Meanwhile, the universities maintain the demand for the updating of funds and salaries, with marches and industrial action underway.

🔗 Sources consulted

1. LV12 — University financing: the Government will appeal the fine imposed by the Justice

2. Diario Huarpe — The Government will appeal the fine for failing to comply with the University Financing Law

3. The Intransigent — The Government of Javier Milei seeks to get rid of the fine

4. Examedia — The government will appeal the university ruling and took aim at the judge

5. Examedia — The government was fined $100,000 per day and will appeal

6. Enterate Noticias — Criticism from Casa Rosada and Grounds for the Appeal

7. Diario Pampero — The Government will appeal the fine for university funds

8. Facundo Quiroga — The Government Rejected the Ruling and Prepares an Appeal

9. Profile — Judge Cormick indicts the government over college funding law

10. NQN News — The Government appealed the summons of the Justice

11. NQN News — The Justice ratified that the Government must apply the law

12. Tiempo Argentino — We strike because we can't stand any more silence or provocations

13. Misiones Online — Call for a new Federal University March

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