On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation allocating $50 million to help the state defend its policies against challenges from the Trump administration and protect immigrants in light of the president’s mass-deportation plans.
One of the laws sets aside $25 million for the state Department of Justice to fight legal battles against the federal government, while the other earmarks $25 million for legal groups assisting immigrants at risk of deportation.
During his first term, President Donald Trump clashed with California on issues such as climate laws, water policy, and immigrant rights, leading the state to file or join over 100 legal actions against his administration.
These same conflicts are resurfacing in the early days of Trump’s second term.
“Californians are being threatened by an out-of-control administration that disregards the Constitution and believes there are no limits to its power,” said Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas in a statement. “That’s why we are passing legislation to allocate resources to protect Californians from this urgent threat.”
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This move follows Newsom’s recent trip to Washington, where he met with Trump and congressional members to seek federal disaster aid for the Los Angeles-area wildfires that devastated neighborhoods in January, killing more than 20 people.
Last month, Newsom signed a $2.5 billion fire relief package to support the state’s disaster response efforts, including evacuations, sheltering survivors, and removing hazardous waste.
His administration expects the federal government to reimburse the state.
Republican lawmakers have criticized the legal funding, arguing that the focus on Trump is diverting attention from the immediate recovery needs in the Los Angeles area.
“This slush fund isn’t solving any real problems — it’s a political stunt that distracts from the urgent issues our state faces and won’t help fire victims,” said Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones.
Critics also expressed concern that the legislation doesn’t ensure the funds wouldn’t be used to defend immigrants without legal status who have been convicted of serious felonies.
After signing the bill, Newsom clarified that the funds were not intended for that purpose and encouraged lawmakers to pass additional legislation if further clarification is needed.
He emphasized that the funds would help legal groups protect the civil rights of California’s most vulnerable residents.
Newsom announced the plan to protect the state’s policies shortly after Trump’s election in November, convening the Legislature for a special session to pass the bills.
California is accustomed to challenging the federal government over Trump’s policies, having filed over 120 lawsuits during his first term, according to the attorney general’s office.
The state spent around $42 million in legal battles against the federal government, with annual costs ranging from $2 million to nearly $13 million.
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