Trump's threat to freeze funding could jeopardize aid for California wildfires
The stakes involve billions from vital safety net programs.
TroibNews 
SACRAMENTO, California — California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the Trump administration’s directive to suspend federal funding, describing it as imprecise and frustratingly vague during a news conference on Tuesday. Among the many programs threatened by budget cuts, Bonta specifically highlighted funding essential for rebuilding fire-ravaged areas in Los Angeles.
“We need it now. We needed it yesterday and without conditions,” Bonta emphasized at the virtual event with five other Democratic attorneys generals, where they announced their legal action against the memo. “And it's unfortunate that it's being put at risk, not just from potential conditions being imposed by the president, but also by this memo.”
A federal judge temporarily blocked the order shortly before it was set to be implemented, marking a victory for nonprofit and public health organizations that warned that even a brief application of Trump’s funding freeze could have devastating effects on those who depend on federal support and the workers providing those services. This ruling affords Bonta's legal team time to pursue their case in court.
Democrats estimate that Trump’s funding freeze could jeopardize billions for California and up to $3 trillion nationwide. The freeze arrives as the president and Republican lawmakers express interest in imposing conditions on disaster aid. Support for disaster relief has become increasingly urgent for California’s leaders following the catastrophic fires that struck Los Angeles earlier this month.
“Donald Trump is illegally blocking hundreds of billions of dollars for essential federal programs to support families recovering after catastrophic fires,” stated Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, calling for the Senate to delay the confirmation of Russell Vought, Trump's nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, until the memo is rescinded.
The memo, released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Monday night, initiates a temporary freeze on all federal programs “including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
While White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained that the order does not affect individuals receiving funds from programs such as Social Security or SNAP, Bonta and other Democratic state attorneys general expressed skepticism. The lawsuit that was previewed on Tuesday aims to prevent the memo from being enforced. Though Leavitt claimed the memo was clear, she refrained from specifying the duration of the freeze or which programs would be exempt.
According to Bonta, the vagueness of the memo appears intentional.
“They could have written a more specific memo, that was tight and specific about what was included and what was not,” Bonta told California Playbook PM. “It is vague and unclear and they use a bunch of buzzwords.”
He characterized the memo as “dangerous, unprecedented in scope and devastating,” as well as “arbitrary and capricious.”
According to Bonta, the directive not only breaches federal law and undermines the separation of powers but has already obstructed the state’s ability to receive reimbursements for Medicaid services.
“We will not stand by while the president attempts to disrupt vital programs that feed our kids, provide medical care to our families and support housing in our communities,” Bonta asserted.
California officials worked swiftly to assess which programs might be impacted. The state anticipates receiving around $168 billion in federal grants and other funding during the current fiscal year, with $108 billion allocated through the Department of Health Care Services for Medi-Cal and various initiatives, as detailed by state Assembly budget adviser Jason Sisney. Additionally, California receives $7.9 billion for public schools, $8.4 billion for higher education, and $6.8 billion for transportation, according to a report from the California Budget and Policy Center following the November election.
During her initial White House press briefing, Leavitt was pressed for details about specific cuts but dismissed concerns about widespread confusion regarding the order's implications.
“There’s only uncertainty in this room amongst the media, there’s no uncertainty in this building,” Leavitt responded, just before Bonta's briefing with the other attorneys general. “The president signed an executive order directing OMB to do just this.”
Blake Jones and Kyle Cheney contributed to this report.
Like this content? Consider signing up for PMG’s California Playbook PM newsletter.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
“We need it now. We needed it yesterday and without conditions,” Bonta emphasized at the virtual event with five other Democratic attorneys generals, where they announced their legal action against the memo. “And it's unfortunate that it's being put at risk, not just from potential conditions being imposed by the president, but also by this memo.”
A federal judge temporarily blocked the order shortly before it was set to be implemented, marking a victory for nonprofit and public health organizations that warned that even a brief application of Trump’s funding freeze could have devastating effects on those who depend on federal support and the workers providing those services. This ruling affords Bonta's legal team time to pursue their case in court.
Democrats estimate that Trump’s funding freeze could jeopardize billions for California and up to $3 trillion nationwide. The freeze arrives as the president and Republican lawmakers express interest in imposing conditions on disaster aid. Support for disaster relief has become increasingly urgent for California’s leaders following the catastrophic fires that struck Los Angeles earlier this month.
“Donald Trump is illegally blocking hundreds of billions of dollars for essential federal programs to support families recovering after catastrophic fires,” stated Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, calling for the Senate to delay the confirmation of Russell Vought, Trump's nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, until the memo is rescinded.
The memo, released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Monday night, initiates a temporary freeze on all federal programs “including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
While White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained that the order does not affect individuals receiving funds from programs such as Social Security or SNAP, Bonta and other Democratic state attorneys general expressed skepticism. The lawsuit that was previewed on Tuesday aims to prevent the memo from being enforced. Though Leavitt claimed the memo was clear, she refrained from specifying the duration of the freeze or which programs would be exempt.
According to Bonta, the vagueness of the memo appears intentional.
“They could have written a more specific memo, that was tight and specific about what was included and what was not,” Bonta told California Playbook PM. “It is vague and unclear and they use a bunch of buzzwords.”
He characterized the memo as “dangerous, unprecedented in scope and devastating,” as well as “arbitrary and capricious.”
According to Bonta, the directive not only breaches federal law and undermines the separation of powers but has already obstructed the state’s ability to receive reimbursements for Medicaid services.
“We will not stand by while the president attempts to disrupt vital programs that feed our kids, provide medical care to our families and support housing in our communities,” Bonta asserted.
California officials worked swiftly to assess which programs might be impacted. The state anticipates receiving around $168 billion in federal grants and other funding during the current fiscal year, with $108 billion allocated through the Department of Health Care Services for Medi-Cal and various initiatives, as detailed by state Assembly budget adviser Jason Sisney. Additionally, California receives $7.9 billion for public schools, $8.4 billion for higher education, and $6.8 billion for transportation, according to a report from the California Budget and Policy Center following the November election.
During her initial White House press briefing, Leavitt was pressed for details about specific cuts but dismissed concerns about widespread confusion regarding the order's implications.
“There’s only uncertainty in this room amongst the media, there’s no uncertainty in this building,” Leavitt responded, just before Bonta's briefing with the other attorneys general. “The president signed an executive order directing OMB to do just this.”
Blake Jones and Kyle Cheney contributed to this report.
Like this content? Consider signing up for PMG’s California Playbook PM newsletter.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
