Napa, CA – As President Donald Trump begins his second term in office, California continues its legal pushback against the administration’s policies, filing multiple lawsuits aimed at blocking actions it deems unlawful. Despite the state’s status as a stronghold of Democratic politics, Trump’s 2024 election results in California show substantial support, with over 6 million voters—38.3% of the state’s total—casting their ballots for him. This support has only intensified the tension between California’s leadership and the federal government, particularly as the state’s legal battles unfold.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, who has led the charge, made it clear that his office will not hesitate to challenge any policies that violate the law. “Over and over, I’ve made clear that my office will only take legal action against the Trump administration when it breaks the law,” Bonta said, defending the state’s aggressive stance.
Since Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, California has filed 16 lawsuits, targeting a variety of actions from tariffs to education policy, in an attempt to safeguard state interests and maintain what it sees as a check on executive overreach. Here is a look at some of the most significant cases.
April 29: The AmeriCorps Lawsuit
In one of the latest legal challenges, California is leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two states in suing the Trump administration over its decision to cancel AmeriCorps grants and impose massive workforce reductions within the agency. The lawsuit, filed in late April, argues that the Trump administration’s move to slash funding and reduce AmeriCorps’ staff by 85% constitutes an illegal undermining of a congressionally-established program. AmeriCorps, which has provided volunteer opportunities for citizens to serve their communities for nearly three decades, is critical to funding numerous community projects nationwide. The lawsuit claims that Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), unlawfully gutted the agency, threatening both its operations and the $557 million allocated by Congress for the year.
April 25: A Fight Over Education and DEI
Just days earlier, California had filed another lawsuit, this time against the U.S. Department of Education. The state is challenging the administration’s interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which has significant implications for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in public schools. Under Trump’s direction, the Education Department moved to withhold federal funding from schools that did not comply with the administration’s interpretation of DEI guidelines. California, which refused to certify compliance with these measures, argues that the president’s interpretation is vague and unsupported, and that it exceeds the scope of his constitutional authority. At stake is approximately $7.9 billion in federal funding for California’s public schools.
April 16: The Tariffs Lawsuit
Earlier in the month, California filed a suit challenging the president’s use of tariffs as a means of exerting economic pressure on foreign nations. Trump has used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose tariffs on various goods, arguing that they serve U.S. economic interests. California contends that these tariff measures are unlawful, exceeding the legal authority granted under the act. The lawsuit reflects the state’s broader concerns about the impact of Trump’s policies on state economies and businesses.
The Bigger Picture
These cases reflect the broader ideological divide between California, often seen as a progressive bastion, and the conservative policies pushed by the Trump administration. While the state has consistently defended its right to challenge federal decisions, the ongoing legal battles underscore the growing tensions between state and federal authority.
In each of these cases, California is not alone. Other states have joined in the lawsuits, recognizing the potential nationwide impact of Trump’s policies. However, the state’s legal strategy is clear: to hold the Trump administration accountable for actions that it believes violate both the law and the rights of its citizens. With 16 lawsuits already filed, and more expected, California’s legal offensive is poised to remain a significant feature of the Trump presidency.
As the legal challenges continue, one thing is certain: California’s stance against the Trump administration is far from over, and the state’s role in shaping the national discourse on governance, law, and executive power remains crucial. Whether or not the state will succeed in blocking these policies, its legal activism serves as a potent reminder of the power states still wield in the face of federal overreach.