California Attorney General’s Efforts Against Trump Administration
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Monday that his office has poured over $5 million into legal battles against the Trump administration over the last six months. This effort has reportedly saved the state nearly $170 billion.
Bonta expressed gratitude for the financial support received from the state council and the governor, noting that they’ve returned $33,600 to the state. He emphasized the significance of this funding, suggesting that if investors could see a return like that, they would likely want to be involved in such transactions themselves.
The savings Bonta referenced stem from a myriad of lawsuits filed since President Trump took office on January 20th. These legal challenges primarily question actions taken by the administration that could potentially freeze substantial federal funding for states, estimating California’s lost funds at around $168 billion.
Bonta stated, “In his first week, President Trump pursued a portion of California’s budget. We acted quickly and took legal action to counteract that.” Moreover, he highlighted a specific court ruling that helped safeguard $7 billion in transportation funds needed for various infrastructure projects. Additional funding secured includes $939 million for education and $972 million aimed at improving public health infrastructure.
The White House has yet to comment but has previously dismissed California’s court challenges against Trump’s agenda. Just last month, a White House spokesperson accused Governor Newsom of causing chaos, claiming Trump was trying to protect Californians from the governor’s mismanagement.
In February, the state legislature granted Bonta’s office an extra $25 million to support its legal actions against Trump. As part of this additional allocation, Bonta was required to submit periodic updates on spending. He noted that much of the funds thus far had gone to internal legal staff rather than external attorneys, though he acknowledged that more resources would be necessary as the legal fight continues.
“While we have managed to effectively utilize $5 million, we recognize the need for sustained funding moving forward,” Bonta remarked, expressing hope for discussions on future allocations and indicating ongoing threats necessitate continuous legal action.
Governor Newsom has expressed confidence in Bonta’s legal strategies, promising that sufficient resources will be available for the work ahead. “This report demonstrates why he can effectively deliver results for the people of California,” Newsom asserted.
Bonta outlined that his office has filed 36 lawsuits against the Trump administration, which address various issues like cuts to federal staffing, medical funding, educational resources, and more broadly, the administration’s actions surrounding the rights of undocumented immigrants.
Recently, his office initiated a 37th lawsuit regarding attempts to restrict gender-related care for transgender youth nationwide. Newsom emphasized that Bonta’s proactive measures are crucial, noting California’s need to challenge the previous administration over 120 times.
“History has shown us that we need to be prepared,” acknowledged Newsom, echoing that additional resources for Bonta’s office will yield significant benefits.
Bonta concluded, stressing the urgency of the situation: “We can’t slow down; as long as the Trump administration infringes upon the law, we will continue our fight.” He asserted, “This is just the beginning, and we are not backing down.”
