One year ago, Speaker Robert Rivas and the Assembly Democratic Caucus passed a $25 million legal defense fund to safeguard residents from Trump’s unlawful and unprecedented federal overreach
SACRAMENTO — One year ago, Speaker Robert Rivas and Assembly Democrats took decisive action to defend California’s economy, working families and fundamental rights from an out-of-control Trump administration by establishing a $25 million legal defense fund.
More than 50 lawsuits later by Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Department of Justice, the state has protected and ensured the disbursement of $188 billion to local governments, businesses and families.
“Our legal defense fund is the ultimate return on investment. Trump tries to bulldoze the Constitution, but California always stands up, fights back — and we’ve protected hundreds of billions for schools, workers and families," Speaker Robert Rivas said.
In the face of unprecedented federal overreach and unlawful actions from the Trump administration, the fund was designed to make sure California would be prepared to defend its taxpayers through litigation when necessary.
Since January 20, 2025, the DOJ has filed 55 lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s illegal actions, securing 13 final court orders and 35 orders granting preliminary relief, along with six cases where Trump has backed down.
In addition to protecting critical funding for essential programs and services, California litigation ended the unlawful federalization of the California National Guard, defended birthright citizenship and blocked restrictions on voters.
Overview of Legal Defense Against Trump
- Filed 55 lawsuits against the Trump Administration to protect Californians’ rights and federal funding since January 20, 2025
- Secured 13 final rulings and 35 preliminary injunctions granting preliminary relief, and are increasingly seeing success at the appellate level. There have also been 6 cases where Trump has backed down in full or in part.
- Protected approximately $188 billion in federal funds for essential services — including healthcare, education, disaster assistance, and programs that support families, workers, seniors, schools and children — that the federal government sought to withhold or freeze.
- Blocked efforts to undermine food assistance programs like SNAP and ensured benefits reached eligible Californians.
- Ended the unlawful federalization of California’s National Guard and stopped the militarization of our streets.
- Stopped Trump from clawing back funds for childcare, cutting-edge medical research, and FEMA’s disaster mitigation, and preserved AmeriCorps.
- Defended core constitutional rights including voting rights, birthright citizenship, and fair legal process.
About the Legal Defense Fund
President Trump’s reckless attempts to freeze Congressionally approved federal funding, loans and grants have jeopardized funding for small businesses, schools, housing assistance, nonprofits, wildfire protection and relief, and health care and research. The $25 million fund, approved by the California Legislature and championed by Speaker Rivas, provides the Department of Justice with financial resources to pursue litigation against federal actions that threaten California’s residents, economy, and constitutional protections.
For more information on California’s legal actions and successes, visit the Department of Justice’s Federal Accountability page: https://oag.ca.gov/federal-accountability.