California’s $25 Million Litigation Fund Has Protected $207 Billion for Families, Schools, Businesses, Public Safety and Essential Services

SACRAMENTO - Speaker Robert Rivas joined Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón to highlight a new California Department of Justice report detailing how California's $25 million State Litigation Fund has protected $207 billion for California's families, workers and businesses from unprecedented federal overreach and attacks by the Trump administration.

In February 2025, Speaker Rivas and democratic lawmakers took swift action during a special legislative session to advance a fund that would allow California to fight back against Trump's unlawful actions against the state.

Now, just 18 months later, the CADOJ has filed over 80 lawsuits to defend California's communities, values and resources and saved hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars that rightfully belong to Californians and the programs they rely on.

These legal actions have resulted in 45 orders granting early relief, 21 final orders and eight additional cases in which the Trump administration backed down before the cases could even be heard.

The funding protected through California's legal efforts supports critical programs and services, including education, child care, food assistance, transportation, emergency preparedness, clean energy, public safety and more.

That's money that Donald Trump attempted to rip out of California's schools, hospitals, fire departments, and working families' pockets. Instead, it's still here.

What State Leaders Are Saying

"Today, we're announcing one of the best returns on investment in California history. We delivered $25 million to create a State Litigation Fund to defend Californians from unlawful actions coming out of Washington. And that $25 million has protected an estimated $207 billion for the people of California. That isn't politics. That's responsible government. That's protecting taxpayers. And nothing is more important to affordability than making sure Californians receive the services they've already paid for."

-Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas

"Since President Trump returned to office, California has been under attack - and has led the way in fighting back. We've filed 82 lawsuits in about as many weeks, and we've delivered real, vital, impactful relief for California families amounting to more than $200 billion. We've protected funding that keeps our communities safe, feeds hungry families, and ensures our kids get the education they deserve. We've gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend constitutional rights - and won. We've protected our elections and stopped the militarization of our cities. We've defended our right to prioritize public safety over assisting with the President's inhumane immigration agenda. I'm incredibly proud of my team that has worked around the clock on behalf of Californians, pulling countless all-nighters along the way. And I'm grateful for the partnership and support of our Governor and Legislature in ensuring we have the resources we need to carry on this fight. California is not backing down."

-Attorney General Rob Bonta

"California has long set the precedent of what it means to defend civil liberties on a state and federal level. We must put an end to federal overreach that puts the lives of people at risk, tramples our constitutional rights, and creates uncertainty across our communities. With the help and leadership of Attorney General Bonta, California has made progress in protecting the rights of every Californian, but we know there is more work to be done. California will not back down from defending our rights, values, and hard-won policies. I am proud to continue working with the Attorney General to ensure California communities know that we have their back."

-Senate Pro Tempore Monique Limón

Fighting Trump, Saving Taxpayer Dollars

California taxpayers shouldn't have to pay twice for the same services - once through their federal taxes, and again when Washington tries to take away the funding they're owed.

The State Litigation Fund is helping make sure California has a lawyer in the room when the Trump administration comes after the resources Californians rely on.

Among the funding and programs protected through California's litigation are:

• Nearly $5 billion in child care and family assistance, after the Trump Administration froze funding for California and other states
• $8.7 billion in USDA nutrition funding, protecting programs including school lunches and SNAP
• $7.7 billion in transportation funding, supporting traffic safety, public transportation and wildfire and flood recovery
• $4.9 billion in education funding, after the Trump Administration twice threatened to withhold federal education dollars from California
• An additional $900 million in education funding, after the Trump Administration backed down following a multistate lawsuit over a funding freeze
• $1.1 billion in emergency preparedness funding through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program
• $230 million in emergency preparedness funding and $55 million in terrorism prevention funding protected from unlawful federal conditions and reallocation efforts.

This is not abstract. This is $207 billion for nurses, teachers, firefighters, small business owners and families trying to keep the lights on. Essential funding that Californians rely on every day.

Protecting California's Values in Court

The fight isn't only about dollars - it's about defending the rights, freedoms and California values that the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to undermine.

From safeguarding constitutional protections to challenging illegal tariffs, California has stood up in court and fought back.

• Birthright Citizenship: Defended the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, which the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed after the Trump Administration attempted to end it.
• Free and Fair Elections: Blocked federal efforts to interfere with California's authority to administer elections and impose unlawful restrictions on voting.
• Public Safety and Constitutional Rights: Successfully challenged the unlawful federalization and deployment of the California National Guard, ultimately helping bring California's Guard troops home.
• Clean Air and Climate Action: Defended California's clean air standards, climate programs and clean energy investments, including EV infrastructure and wind projects.
• Small Businesses and Consumers: Challenged illegal tariffs that threatened to raise costs for California businesses, consumers and families - winning repeated victories in federal court.
• Public Servants and Shared Resources: Protected Public Service Loan Forgiveness for public servants and defended federal agencies that support museums and libraries, workers, small businesses and efforts to prevent homelessness.

About the State Litigation 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.