California Secures $168 Billion Federal Funds Through Legal Campaign

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have announced that the state's extensive litigation against President Trump's administration has successfully preserved over $168 billion in federal funding. Since January, California has filed 37 lawsuits and led or co-led 23 of them, securing 17 early court victories out of 19 cases, which have blocked numerous Trump administration actions including an attempted freeze of one-third of the state's budget. These legal efforts, costing about $5 million, have yielded an extraordinary return, with Bonta highlighting that every dollar spent has returned $33,600 to the state. Beyond preserving funding, the lawsuits have also defended constitutional rights such as birthright citizenship and challenged the unauthorized federalization of the California National Guard. The preserved funds cover critical areas including transportation infrastructure, education, healthcare, and electric vehicle infrastructure. California officials emphasize that these legal actions uphold the state's values and protect the livelihoods, health, and rights of its residents amid ongoing federal challenges.