L.A. Times Politics is reporting that California has filed 83 lawsuits against the Donald J Trump administration during his second term, incurring more than $20 million in costs. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced these figures as part of an annual report to the Legislature, detailing the state's efforts to counter what it describes as presidential overreach. The state has also submitted over 120 friend-of-the-court briefs in other legal matters and defended itself in numerous cases where the Trump administration sued California.
The outlet said these legal challenges are aimed at protecting Californians from federal actions impacting healthcare coverage, special education, reproductive rights, gender rights, the environment, endangered species and immigrants. Bonta stated that the "disastrous impact of Trump’s lawlessness" is real and hurting families, businesses and communities daily. UCLA law professor Hiroshi Motomura noted that courts are currently serving as the primary barrier to the president's actions.
In a separate but related development, L.A. Times Politics also reported on Proposition 39, a proposed ballot measure that would require voters to prove their citizenship with identification at polling places. The outlet described this proposition as a partisan attempt to enshrine President Trump's election conspiracy theories into California law, noting it has a chance of passing.
The L.A. Times highlighted several successful legal interventions, including a preliminary injunction won by California and other states against the Department of Agriculture. This injunction stopped the Trump administration's attempt to tie USDA grants for food programs, such as school lunches and food stamps, to compliance with right-wing policies on immigration, gender ideology and diversity issues. Other cases mentioned include challenges to child welfare funds, mental health grants for schools and politically motivated cuts to transportation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding for states run by Democrats. Bonta asserted that his office's legal work has protected approximately $207 billion in funding.