Federal Accountability

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to unlawfully impose immigration enforcement requirements on over $1 billion dollars in annual U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. These grants are unrelated to federal civil immigration enforcement and are used by states to protect public safety and provide critical resources and services to victims and survivors of crime, including victims of domestic violence. Each year, states across the nation use these funds to assist nearly 10 million victims. For fiscal year 2025, California is expected to receive over $165 million in grant funds. In the lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that imposing this new set of conditions across VOCA grant programs is arbitrary and capricious, exceeds U.S. DOJ’s legal authority, and violates the Spending Clause. 

“Yet again, the Trump Administration is attempting to bully states into participating in their inhumane and frenzied immigration agenda. This time, the President is holding hostage over a billion dollars in grants that states use to ensure victims and survivors of crime can access emergency shelter, sexual assault forensic exams, counseling, and other essential services to help reclaim their lives after tragedy,” said Attorney General Bonta. “These actions are not only morally wrong — they are also illegal. Only Congress has the power of the purse and the power to condition these funds. This brazen attempt to use funding that supports our most vulnerable residents to strong-arm California and states nationwide into doing the federal government’s job for it, is blatantly beyond the power of the President. We’ll see him in court.” 

BACKGROUND

Since 1984, Congress has mandated the distribution of nearly all VOCA funds to states based on fixed statutory formulas — meaning each state is entitled to a specific amount of funding based on the applicable formula. For fiscal year 2025, over $178 million from the Crime Victims Fund is available to be awarded to states under the Victim Compensation Formula Grant, and over $1.2 billion is available to be awarded to states under the Victim Assistance Formula Grant.

Yet in July 2025, the Office of Victims for Crime (OVC), an agency housed within U.S. DOJ and charged with administering VOCA grants, declared that states will be unable to access VOCA funds unless they agree to broadly support and assist the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s federal immigration enforcement activities. 

VOCA GRANTS IN CALIFORNIA

VOCA grants ensure that states can fulfill their duty to protect public safety and redress harm to survivors and victims of crime. States have long relied on a steady stream of federal funding for critical victim services — covering everything from medical and dental expenses, funeral expenses, crime-scene cleanup, sexual assault forensic exams, victim and witness advocacy services, individual counseling, and emergency shelter, among other forms of compensation and assistance provided to victims and survivors at a time of severe distress and trauma in their lives. Lapses in VOCA grant funding, even if temporary, would result in the sudden and massive disruption of state victim services programs that have historically been supported by U.S. DOJ grant funds. 

In California, federal VOCA funds and associated state funds, have been used to support various victim assistance efforts across 35 programs, including through: 

• The California Department of Justice's Victims’ Services Unit (VSU), which provides victim-centered and trauma-informed responses and services to all victims, survivors, and their families. When Californians experience victimization — including sexual assault, robbery, a hate crime, or domestic violence — VSU provides services, supports, and referrals to connect people with resources and services that meet their needs. In fiscal year 2023-24, VSU provided services to 1,285 individuals.
• Victim Witness Assistance Centers at district attorney’s offices in each of California’s 58 counties that provide comprehensive services including crisis intervention support, emergency assistance, court escorts, and direct counseling to victims and witnesses of violent crime. In fiscal year 2023-24, Victim Witness Assistance Centers provided services to over 279,000 individuals.
• The Domestic Violence Assistance Program, which provides funding to 98 non-government organizations throughout California to provide comprehensive support, including emergency shelter, food, and clothing to victims of domestic violence and their children. This program also provides support and establishment of domestic violence services to unserved and underserved populations, including rural areas and geographic areas with limited access to services. In fiscal year 2023-24, subgrantees of the Domestic Violence Assistance Program served 118,695 individuals. 

PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT   

Moreso, the Trump Administration’s illegal imposition of immigration enforcement conditions on VOCA grants leaves states in the untenable position of choosing between forfeiting crucial federal funding by refusing to comply with the unlawful conditions or surrendering control of their law enforcement agencies by complying with these conditions placed on grants. States including California have long concluded that the best way to protect public safety within their borders is to draw clear lines between federal civil immigration enforcement and state and local criminal law enforcement — ensuring that victims and witnesses to a crime will come forward to law enforcement agencies without fear of deportation. The California Values Act (SB 54) ensures that limited state and local resources are focused on public safety, not immigration enforcement, and promotes vital community trust in local law enforcement.

In May, Attorney General Bonta filed two lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s effort to unlawfully impose immigration enforcement requirements on billions of dollars in annual U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Transportation grants. These grants are also unrelated to federal civil immigration enforcement.

In filing this lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, Illinois, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. 

A copy of the complaint can be found here. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 22 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supporting continuation of the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). The NYTS is an annual study that assesses smoking and vaping among middle and high school students. The survey provides valuable insight into youth tobacco use and emerging nicotine products and has shaped efforts led by state attorneys general to curb youth tobacco use for over two decades. NYTS data was the first national indicator of the youth e-cigarette epidemic. 

“Tobacco control efforts have long been a bipartisan priority, particularly when those efforts concern our youth, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has taken several actions that threaten to undo the progress we have made, such as eliminating the Office on Smoking and Health at the CDC,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I’m proud to join a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in urging the Trump Administration to protect the National Youth Tobacco Survey. When it comes to informing our work to address youth tobacco use, this survey has been a tremendous asset to us all.”  

The comment letter is submitted in response to a CDC invitation for public comment on continuation of the NYTS. The CDC notes that it intends to make revisions to the 2026-2028 NYTS, but has yet to identify specific proposed changes. The CDC has recently eliminated its Office on Smoking and Health and has replaced leaders and cut staff at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, which regulates the tobacco industry. The letter highlights the bipartisan work of attorneys general nationwide to address youth exposure to tobacco and nicotine products, and how NYTS data has informed and supported those critical efforts. 

In 1998, 52 state and territorial attorneys general entered into a settlement with the four largest tobacco companies in the United States to resolve dozens of lawsuits. Among other important objectives, attorneys general brought these lawsuits to recover billions of dollars in health care costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses and to reduce and prevent smoking in the United States, especially among youth. The settlement, known as the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), bars the tobacco companies from misleading the public regarding the negative health impacts of tobacco use and prohibits tobacco companies from targeting youth in advertising. The MSA further requires the attorneys general and the tobacco companies to meet every three years to coordinate efforts to reduce youth tobacco use, an effort that relies heavily on NYTS data. To date, the MSA has generated over $171 billion in ongoing payments from the tobacco companies to the states. 

In addition to the MSA tobacco settlement, attorneys general have undertaken several initiatives to limit youth exposure to tobacco and nicotine products. Attorney General Bonta remains committed to supporting, through the California Department of Justice’s Tobacco Grant Program, the statewide enforcement of the flavor ban and similar local flavor ordinances, as well as the continued crackdown on violations in state tobacco laws. Further, Attorney General Bonta has led lawsuits against companies illegally importing products from China and distributing them in California, such as Flum, as well as entities conducting illegal sales and marketing of tobacco products over the internet. In 2023, Attorney General Bonta secured a $462 million multistate settlement agreement with electronic cigarette maker, JUUL, Labs, Inc. (JUUL) and six other states. Of the $462 million settlement amount, California will receive a total of $175.8 million, the highest amount of any state settlement yet reached with JUUL. These funds are helping California fund research, education, and enforcement efforts related to e-cigarettes.

In submitting today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Puerto Rico.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement on the conclusion of the three-day trial in California’s lawsuit challenging the unlawful use of federalized California National Guard troops and Marines for civilian law enforcement in Los Angeles:

“Before the trial began, I issued a statement expressing confidence that the evidence would show that the Trump Administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act. Now that the trial has ended, I remain confident. Our legal team did a great job,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We asked the court to grant a permanent injunction to stop the Administration from using the military for domestic law enforcement and maintaining a standing army in Southern California. We made a compelling case — backed by facts and specifics — and we look forward to getting a decision in the near future.” 

The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits members of the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement activities. During the three-day trial, California showed that, in its orders to the federalized California National Guard and Marines, the Trump Administration violated the three applicable tests under the Act: 

• The Trump Administration is making direct, active use of military personnel to execute the law, including through the provision of armed perimeter support and blockades, apprehension and detention of civilians, and — in the weeks following the June mobilization orders — participating in an estimated three out of every four immigration raids in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. 
• The Trump Administration’s use of military personnel clearly pervades the activities of civilian law enforcement. 
• Under the Trump Administration’s command, federalized National Guard members have subjected civilians to the exercise of proscriptive military power.  

Attorney General Bonta is committed to holding President Trump and his administration accountable for overreaching their authority under the law and infringing on Californians’ constitutional rights. Separate from this lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta led a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in support of a court order blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from engaging in unconstitutional and unlawful stops of Los Angeles residents during immigration sweeps.   

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction finding California and a multistate coalition were likely to succeed on their claim that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to provide unfettered access to individual personal health data to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), violated the Administrative Procedure Act’s prohibition on arbitrary and capricious rulemaking. The preliminary injunction blocks DHS from using Medicaid data obtained from plaintiff states for immigration enforcement purposes, and blocks HHS from sharing Medicaid data obtained from coalition states with DHS for immigration enforcement purposes. The preliminary injunction will remain in place either until 14 days after HHS and DHS complete a reasoned decisionmaking process that complies with the Administrative Procedure Act, or until litigation concludes.

“The Trump Administration’s move to use Medicaid data for immigration enforcement upended longstanding policy protections without notice or consideration for the consequences. It sowed a culture of fear that threatens our Medicaid system, caused chaos for states and providers, and created a chilling effect for patients seeking vital emergency medical care,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s preliminary injunction rightfully blocks any sharing of California's Medicaid data for immigration enforcement for now — and ensures any of the data that’s already been shared is not being used for immigration enforcement purposes. As the President continues to overstep his authority in his inhumane anti-immigrant crusade, this is a clear reminder that he remains bound by the law.”

On July 1, 2025, California led a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration arguing that the mass transfer of Medicaid data violates the law and asking the court to block any new transfer or use of this data for immigration enforcement purposes. The lawsuit highlighted that the Trump Administration’s illegal actions are creating fear and confusion leading noncitizens and their family members to disenroll, or refuse to enroll, in emergency Medicaid for which they are otherwise eligible, leaving states and their safety net hospitals to foot the bill for federally mandated emergency healthcare services. In the limited preliminary injunction order, the court ruled that the Trump Administration’s actions were likely arbitrary and capricious and rulemaking in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Created in 1965, Medicaid is an essential source of health insurance for lower-income individuals and particular underserved population groups, including children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. The Medicaid program allows each participating state to develop and administer its own unique health plans; states must meet threshold federal statutory criteria, but they can tailor their plans’ eligibility standards and coverage options to residents’ needs. As of January 2025, 78.4 million people were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) nationwide.  

California’s Medi-Cal program provides healthcare coverage for one out of every three Californians, including more than two million noncitizens. Noncitizens include green card holders, refugees, individuals who hold temporary protected status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients, and others. Not all noncitizens are eligible for federally funded Medi-Cal services, and so California uses state-only funds to provide a version of the Medi-Cal program to all eligible state residents, regardless of their immigration status. 

Attorney General Bonta led the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washinton in filing the lawsuit.

A copy of the preliminary injunction order is available here. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement ahead of trial beginning tomorrow at 10:00 AM PT in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in California’s lawsuit challenging the unlawful use of federalized California National Guard troops for civilian law enforcement in Los Angeles in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. Attorney General Bonta and California Governor Gavin Newsom sued the Trump Administration in June after President Trump sent federalized California National Guard members and Marines into Los Angeles communities to patrol and engage in other law enforcement activity prohibited by the Posse Comitatus Act. He did so over the objections of the Governor, against the wishes of local law enforcement, and for reasons unsupported by conditions on the ground.

“Two months ago, the federal government deployed military troops to the streets of Los Angeles for the purposes of political theater and public intimidation. This dangerous move has no precedent in American history, erodes trust between the American military and the public, and pulls our servicemembers away from their vital role in fighting wildfires and tackling the fentanyl epidemic,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, 300 federalized California National Guard members remain tools in the President’s game, and the Trump Administration seeks to advance the argument that there should be no limits on what federal troops can do. But that is not what our law allows. We begin trial with the facts and the law on our side – and we look forward to making our case in court.”

At trial, California will argue that the Trump Administration’s decision to embed federalized California National Guard members and Marines within a domestic law-enforcement agency — the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency— and to deploy them widely throughout the state, all while asserting there are no limits on what those federal troops can do, is unprecedented and illegal. In attempting to justify the unjustifiable, the Trump Administration ignores both the clear tests that courts have established over decades for interpreting the Posse Comitatus Act and determining what conduct violates the Act, as well as career military officers’ understanding of that Act. 

California will show that the Trump Administration has consistently violated the law in its orders to the federalized California National Guard and Marines to engage in activities that the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits, clearly demonstrating that the Trump Administration has violated the Act under three applicable tests:

• The Trump Administration is making direct, active use of military personnel to execute the law, including through the provision of armed perimeter support and blockades, apprehension and detention of civilians, and in the weeks following the June mobilization orders participating in an estimated three out of every four immigration raids in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. 
• The Trump Administration’s use of military personnel clearly ventures into the territory of civilian law enforcement by ordering federalized National Guard soldiers to participate in law enforcement operations that have nothing to do with the military.
• Under the Trump Administration’s command, California National Guard members have subjected civilians to the exercise of coercive military power by preventing Californians’ freedom of movement through their law enforcement activities and being forced to act as a “deterrent.”

California seeks a court order identifying these acts as violations of the Posse Comitatus Act and permanently enjoining the Trump Administration from engaging in the same or similar activity in the future.

Attorney General Bonta is committed to holding President Trump and his administration accountable for overreaching their authority under the law and infringing on Californians’ constitutional rights. Separate from this lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta led a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in support of a court order blocking ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from engaging in unconstitutional and unlawful stops of Los Angeles residents during immigration sweeps.   

Copies of California’s supplemental brief and reply brief in support of its motion for a preliminary injunction are available here and here, respectively. You can listen to the trial beginning tomorrow at 10:00 AM PT here. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social this morning against a complete and accurate Census count:

“During his first term, President Trump tried to prevent a complete and accurate 2020 Census count from taking place. My office took a leadership role in holding him accountable — we sued and were able to block that unlawful effort by the President. In the process, we ensured that California received both the Congressional representation and federal funding we were entitled to. We will be keeping a close eye on the Administration’s actions. Let there be no doubt: If necessary, we are prepared to take legal action once again. The U.S. Constitution mandates that all individuals — regardless of legal status — be counted. It’s not an option.”

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today secured a preliminary injunction blocking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from spending any of the funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program on non-related purposes while multistate litigation continues. Since 2020, FEMA has made billions of dollars available under the BRIC program to prepare for and mitigate the risks from disasters before they happen. California is the largest beneficiary of this program and could receive over a billion dollars for future projects that FEMA had selected for grant funding before the program was unlawfully terminated. 

“The President keeps breaking the law, and we keep holding him accountable in court,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Shuttering this program would do nothing to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse or improve government efficiency. This is a program with bipartisan support that is focused on protecting lives and livelihoods from flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. I’m pleased the District Court has ensured this funding will not be redirected and misspent while our litigation continues.”

A copy of the court order is available here. 

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, leading a multistate coalition, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to restrict access to healthcare for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary youth. The lawsuit targets recent federal actions — including President Trump’s Executive Order 14187 and its implementing memoranda from the U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) — targeting the provision of medically necessary gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 19, even in states like California where such care is legal and protected. In today’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that the Trump Administration’s actions have no legal basis and should be declared unlawful and vacated in their entirety to protect access to care for patients who need it.

“The President and his Administration’s relentless attacks on gender-affirming care endanger already vulnerable adolescents whose health and well-being are at risk; their demands that our healthcare providers discriminate against transgender individuals and deny them access to medically-necessary healthcare is cruel and irresponsible,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s unlawful threats have not only undermined State rights but have directly contributed to diminishing access to gender-affirming care. These actions have created a chilling effect in which providers are pressured to scale back on their care for fear of prosecution, leaving countless individuals without the critical care they need and are entitled to under law. Today’s lawsuit aims to address the root cause of this problem and hold the Trump Administration accountable, ensuring that we continue to safeguard and uphold the healthcare rights and freedoms of our transgender community.”

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order declaring that the United States would only recognize two sexes and calling for an end to federal support for what the Administration called “gender ideology.” Executive Order 14187, signed shortly after, focused on restricting healthcare for youth. It defined everyone under 19 as a child, even though states like California consider 18-year-olds legal adults, and described recognized medical treatments as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” The order directed the U.S. DOJ to pursue enforcement actions related to this care, steps which were outlined in a memorandum issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 22, 2025 (Bondi Directive). Following the issuance of this directive, on June 11, 2025, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate issued a memorandum (Shumate Directive) to all U.S. DOJ civil division employees directing them to use all available resource to “prioritize investigations of doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and other appropriate entities” in pursuit of alleged violations “of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and other laws” for providing gender-affirming healthcare.

On July 9, 2025, the U.S. DOJ issued a press release announcing that it had issued more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics that provide gender-affirming care to adolescents. In the release, Attorney General Bondi stated that “[m]edical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice,” making it clear that the subpoenas and investigations subject providers to the threat of prosecution for providing gender-affirming care to adolescents pursuant to three federal statutes that have nothing to do with the provisions of this medical care. The attorneys general argue that these efforts have no legal basis and are intended to discourage providers from offering lifesaving healthcare that is lawful under state law.

In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that the Trump Administration’s implementation of Executive Order 14187, Section 8 is unlawful and undermines State rights by stripping States of their power to regulate healthcare provided to their own residents. Executive Order 14187 further targets gender-affirming care for transgender individuals under the age of 19 — a category that includes persons who have reached the age of majority — by intimidating providers through threats of civil and criminal prosecution laws unconnected to the lawful provision of this care. California recognizes gender-affirming care as medically necessary healthcare that respects the gender identity of the patient, as experienced and defined by the patient. In California, gender-affirming care is a right protected by state law. Additionally, California law also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, gender dysphoria diagnosis, or intersex status in the provision of healthcare services, including gender-affirming care. The Trump Administration’s attempt to unlawfully end the use of medically necessary gender-affirming care undermines States’ anti-discrimination laws and places providers at risk of violating state laws.

The coalition also highlights how the Trump Administration’s relentless attacks on gender-affirming care have caused confusion and fear among providers, transgender individuals under the age of 19, and their families. As a result of these attacks, providers have been pressured to cease providing gender-affirming care in light of the threats to their licenses, livelihoods, and liberty. Acceding to Trump Administration’s demands forces hospitals, providers, and others to potentially violate States’ anti-discrimination and age-of-majority state laws, while also causing direct harm to transgender adolescents suffering from gender dysphoria. Medical experts, including major national medical associations, agree that gender-affirming care is medically necessary for some individuals suffering from gender dysphoria. Denying this care has been shown to worsen mental health outcomes, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

The attorneys general warn that the Trump Administration’s tactics are already having an impact. In some states, including California, providers have begun to reduce or eliminate services, and patients are reporting canceled appointments and confusion about whether they can continue their care. The lawsuit seeks to prevent further harm and to ensure that transgender youth and their families can access care without being targeted by the federal government.

In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that the Trump Administration’s actions violate the Constitution, exceed federal authority, and undermine state laws that require equal access to medical treatment. The lawsuit asks the court to block the administration’s actions and stop the enforcement of these executive orders.

Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general of New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Connecticut led the lawsuit and were joined by the attorneys general of Delaware, Hawai’i, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the Governor of Pennsylvania.

A copy of the complaint can be found here. 

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today responded to official confirmation that the U.S. Department of Education has released previously withheld education funding to California. Attorney General Bonta co-led a coalition in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s abrupt and unlawful decision to freeze this funding earlier this month. 

“The Trump Administration has officially reversed course on its blatantly illegal, misguided effort to freeze critical education funds weeks before the school year was set to start,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let’s be clear: This funding should never have been frozen in the first place – that’s why we filed our lawsuit. We’re glad to see the Administration back down from its illegal effort to withhold these funds, but we can’t lose sight of the long-term damage caused by the President’s campaign of chaos and uncertainty. California will not stop fighting to hold the President and his Administration accountable to the law and to protect our children’s educational future.” 

BACKGROUND

On June 30, the Trump Administration abruptly and unlawfully froze funding for six longstanding programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education just weeks before the school year in many parts of California is set to start. For decades, California and other states have used funding under these programs to carry out a broad range of programs and services, including educational programs for migrant children and English learners; programs that promote effective classroom instruction, improve school conditions and the use of technology in the classroom; community learning centers that offer students a broad range of opportunities for academic and extracurricular enrichment; and adult education and workforce development efforts. 

On July 14, Attorney General Bonta co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two states together in filing a lawsuit and motion for a preliminary injunction, arguing that the freeze violates federal funding statutes and regulations authorizing these critical programs and appropriating funds for them, federal statutes governing the federal budgeting process, and the constitutional separation of powers doctrine and the Presentment Clause.  

On July 25, the California Department of Education (CDE) received notice from ED that beginning the week of July 28, 2025, ED would begin releasing previously impounded federal funds for the current federal and education fiscal year. Yesterday, CDE received Grant Award Notifications confirming that the entirety of the funds that ED was required to make available to the states on July 1 is being released. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to defending California’s educational institutions and students against the Trump Administration’s illegal attacks. Attorney General Bonta has filed lawsuits challenging the unlawful termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs; the mass firings and dismantling of the Education Department; unlawful conditioning of K-12 education funding; and the discontinuation of school mental health grant funding. He’s also secured other relief for California schools including the funding released this week and $200 million in previously awarded education funding to address the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools.

Continues fighting on all fronts for businesses and consumers 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed an amicus brief in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, a lawsuit challenging the tariffs President Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In April, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful use of power to levy tariffs via over a dozen executive orders under IEEPA. In the brief filed today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom argue that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was correct in holding that the Trump Administration’s interpretation of its authority under IEEPA is incorrect, that IEEPA’s language does not provide the authority to impose tariffs, and that President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs are unlawful (and that, much like California’s own case, the plaintiffs’ case was properly filed in district court, not the Court of International Trade). The brief urges the Court of Appeals to affirm the District Court’s decision.

“As the country braces for continuous chaos from President Trump’s illegal tariffs, standing united to fight for American consumers and businesses is more important than ever,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, I urge the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to affirm the District Court’s decision that President Trump’s chaotic tariffs are unlawful — not one word in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trump Administration’s vehicle for these tariffs, authorizes tariffs. These illegal tariffs will affect everything from the cost of essential household items like food and toilet paper to the cost of housing. The tariff chaos is a man-made crisis, and California families and industries will pay the price.”

The case in question involves two family-owned educational-toy companies challenging the Trump Administration’s tariffs under IEEPA. In May, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied the Trump Administration’s motion to transfer the case to the Court of International Trade and instead retained jurisdiction, held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs and that the Trump Administration’s IEEPA tariffs were unlawful, and granted the plaintiffs’ motion for an injunction. In the brief, Attorney General Bonta agrees and argues that the Court of Appeals should affirm the District Court’s well-reasoned decision. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to challenging the illegal tariffs that threaten California jobs, businesses, and consumers and has held roundtables in San Francisco and Los Angeles to learn about the impact of tariffs on California industry.

On April 16, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful use of IEEPA to impose tariffs without the consent of Congress. In May, California filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to stop the Trump Administration’s illegal tariffs while litigation in its case proceeds and filed an amicus brief in the Court of International Trade in Oregon v. Trump, another case also challenging President Trump’s illegal imposition of tariffs. In June, a judge granted California's request for dismissal to allow the state to appeal its case challenging the Trump Administration’s illegal tariffs after the Administration asked that the case be transferred to the Court of International Trade — a motion that California opposed. The dismissal kept the case in California and allowed California to appeal to the Ninth Circuit. California’s case remains ongoing.

A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.