Newsom Proposes Legal Fund Against Trump Policies

California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a $25 million legal defense fund to prepare for potential litigation against policies from incoming President-elect Donald Trump. This initiative, part of a special legislative session, aims to safeguard critical services like disaster relief and healthcare while defending civil rights and environmental protections. Newsom's proposal follows California's history of filing over 120 lawsuits against the Trump administration during his first term, spending $42 million in legal battles. State lawmakers, including San Francisco Sen. Scott Wiener, are pushing for additional funding for legal aid organizations and city attorneys to further combat Trump's policies. The session is seen as a strategic move by Newsom, a potential presidential contender for 2028, to position himself as a leader in opposing federal overreach. Newsom's office anticipates the budget legislation to be signed into law before Trump's inauguration on January 20.