California governor Gavin Newsom is calling for lawmakers to approve a $25 million litigation fund to defend the state from federal overreach and “potential harm” during President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration.
The Democrat made the request on Monday to kick off a special session aimed at Trump-proofing the progressive state ahead of Trump’s inauguration in January.
The proposed $25 million fund would be available to the California Department of Justice and other state agencies to “defend California from unconstitutional federal overreach, challenge illegal federal actions in court, and take administrative actions to reduce potential harm,” according to a press release from Newsom’s office.
Newsom vowed to work with the new administration, adding that “we want President Trump to succeed in serving all Americans.”
“But when there is overreach, when lives are threatened, when rights and freedoms are targeted, we will take action,” he said in a prepared statement.
Newsom’s office said the $25 million would be used to protect billions of dollars in state funding, including disaster relief and health care. It would also be used to protect abortion access, “access to clean air and water, and fundamental civil rights.”
During Trump’s first term, California’s spent about $42 million to support 122 lawsuits against his administration, Newsom’s office reported. That money resulted in tens of millions of dollars more in federal reimbursements, billions of dollars in savings for California consumers, and protected billions of dollars in federal funding, the office said.
California attorney general Rob Bonta said in a prepared statement that the $25 million litigation fund would ensure this office has “the resources we need to meet the demands of the moment and robustly defend California’s people, progress and values.”
“With potentially billions of dollars in federal funding on the line if the President-elect follows through on his promises, we must be — and we are — ready to act on day one,” Bonta said.
According to the Sacramento Bee, Newsom told reporters on Monday that it is important for California to “prepare for Trump 2.0, where his rhetoric is not only heightened, but his call for retribution, revenge is pretty clear. Anyone who’s not paying attention, I think is doing so at their own peril.”.
State assemblyman James Gallagher, the Republican leader, told the paper that the special session was a “total posture” from Newsom who wants to be a “progressive darling.”
“I mean, Gavin Newsom wants to run for president,” he said. “That’s what this is about.”
In addition to the $25 million litigation fund requested by Newsom, Democratic state senator Scott Wiener, filed a bill Monday to provide another $25 million for legal services, including for defending illegal immigrants from deportation, and $10 million “to ensure cities & counties can defend against Trump.”
Newsom called for the special session just days after Trump won the presidential election, claiming that the “freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack.”
As governor, Newsom has turned California into sanctuary for people seeking abortions and transgender surgeries and treatments; mandated that all new vehicles sold in the state be electric, hydrogen-powered or plug-in hybrids by 2035; and expanded state-funded health care to include all low-income residents, including illegal immigrants.