California Attorney General Bonta Reports $168 Billion Restored to State in Six Months of Litigation Against Trump Administration

Strategic Insights -

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has been at the forefront of defending the state against the Trump Administration's illegitimate actions, securing significant victories in court and through litigation. Since the President's inauguration on January 20, 2025, Bonta and the California Department of Justice (DOJ) have filed 37 lawsuits, leading or co-leading 23 of them, and submitted over 40 amicus briefs in support of other litigation. Notably, Bonta has achieved success in 17 of the 19 cases where he sought and a district court ruled on early relief, with 13 orders blocking the President's actions currently in effect.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bonta has successfully restored over $168 billion in federal funding to California, representing about one-third of the State's budget, through a single lawsuit challenging the President's freeze on federal funding.
  • He has protected an estimated $11.1 billion in federal grant funding from the Trump Administration's efforts to terminate, impound, or condition specific funding for education, healthcare, transportation, and other programs.
  • Bonta has defended California's constitutional rights, including birthright citizenship, and stopped the dismantling of federal agencies like U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) and AmeriCorps.
  • He has secured concessions and reversals outside of court, including the Department of Education's recent decision to restore funding it had illegally frozen.
  • Bonta has filed multiple lawsuits to protect Californians' personal and private data from misuse by the federal government, securing court orders blocking the Department of Government Efficiency's access to Americans' financial data and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's demands for sensitive SNAP recipient data.
  • The Attorney General has issued guidance to law enforcement, prosecutors, and public institutions to comply with state laws and consumer alerts to address the Trump Administration's attacks on California's people and values.
  • California's early, proactive, and defensive actions have helped the state maintain its values in the face of attacks and serve as a backstop against the President's illegitimate actions.

Statistics:

  • Over $168 billion in federal funding restored to California in six months of litigation.
  • 17 out of 19 cases where Bonta sought early relief resulted in a favorable outcome.
  • 13 orders currently in effect blocking the President's actions.
  • Over $11.1 billion in federal grant funding protected from the Trump Administration's termination or conditioning efforts.
  • $168 billion represents about one-third of California's state budget.
  • $939 million in education funding secured through Bonta's lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Approximately $972 million in public health funding secured through Bonta's litigation challenging the abrupt termination of federal funding.
  • Over $300 million in electric vehicle infrastructure funding restored after Bonta's lawsuit against the Trump Administration.

Sources:

  • "Six Months into Second Trump Administration, Attorney General Bonta Reports California's Litigation Has Restored Over $168 Billion in Funding to the State" by California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
  • "California's Litigation Against Trump Administration Restores $168 Billion in Funding" by OAG.CA.GOV.