Newsom and Bonta celebrate courtroom victories against Trump admin, protected a third of state’s budget
California – California has fought back against the Trump Administration’s plans to cut funding to the state, and as a result, the state has received at least $168 billion in federal money. Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the milestone, saying it was an important defense of California’s values, budget, and constitutional rights.
When President Trump assumed office, California was in the middle of a White House agenda that threatened to cut billions from important programs. The state then began a coordinated legal attack in response. In just six months, California filed 37 lawsuits, leading or co-leading in 23 of them. It also sent in more than 40 amicus briefs to support other cases against the administration’s activities.
Of the 19 lawsuits in which courts have ruled on early motions, California prevailed in 17. Thirteen of those rulings are currently blocking Trump-era policies. A single lawsuit challenging an unlawful funding freeze alone ensured that $168 billion in federal dollars, roughly one-third of California’s budget, remained intact.
“We’re talking about people’s livelihoods, their health, their education, and in some cases even their lives. That’s why every time the President breaks the law, my office stands ready to take him to court,” said Attorney General Bonta.
“For every dollar we’ve been given by the Governor and the Legislature in Special Session funding, we’ve returned more than $33,600.”
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In late 2024, Governor Newsom called a special session to start the state’s proactive legal strategy. He gave $50 million to the state, half for lawsuits and half for civil legal help to anyone who need it. That investment has yielded immense returns.
Among the many victories:
- Transportation: California blocked efforts by the U.S. Department of Transportation to impose immigration-related conditions on $7 billion in annual grants.
- Education: Nearly $1 billion in school funding was restored after the U.S. Department of Education reversed an illegal freeze, just weeks before the school year began.
- Public Health: The state preserved over $970 million in funding for critical health services, including disease tracking and immunization access.
- Electric Vehicles: More than $300 million in funding for EV infrastructure was reinstated after being unlawfully withheld.
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California has sued to stop attempts to make the state’s National Guard part of the federal government without permission. Almost all of the 5,000 servicemen who were sent to that case have come back home. And in a case that goes to the heart of constitutional rights, the state has won important decisions that stop efforts to remove birthright citizenship.
The California Department of Justice has also fought against federal efforts to gather and misuse sensitive personal information, such as Medicaid records and food assistance records, to preserve the privacy of millions of Californians.
“California’s early, proactive, and defensive actions have helped California maintain its values in the face of wholesale attacks against our families and communities, while also serving as a backstop against tyrannical actions by President Trump and those who aim to ignore the rule of law. As the federal government continues to attack our state, California will keep defending itself, its values, and its people,” said Gov. Newsom.
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California’s legal playbook has not only worked, but it has also been necessary as the political winds continue to change. The state’s litigation battles have become a critical part of its larger mandate to safeguard the public and preserve the rule of law. This is because billions of dollars are at stake and vulnerable communities need ongoing support.
