In a new legal challenge, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 22 other state attorneys general have filed motions alleging the Trump administration's non-compliance with a court order to release frozen federal funds.
The coalition asserts that despite a temporary restraining order, the administration continues to withhold billions in congressional-approved funding meant for states. They are seeking enforcement of the existing order and an additional preliminary injunction to prevent further funding freezes.
The dispute stems from a January 27 memo from Trump's budget office that attempted to halt funding for various federal programs. While the White House later withdrew this memo, state officials report ongoing disruptions to critical funding streams.
According to Bonta, approximately $3 trillion in federal funding was initially targeted, including $107.5 billion in Medicaid funding that serves about 14.5 million Californians. The affected programs span healthcare, education, infrastructure, environmental protection, and social services.
Recent examples of funding disruptions include St. John's Community Health in Southern California, which reported the termination of a $1.6 million federal grant for its transgender health program and the inability to access an additional $1 million in mental health service funding.
The Trump administration maintains it has acted within its authority, arguing that the President and the Office of Management and Budget can direct agencies to implement the President's agenda. Republican leadership in Congress has broadly supported these actions, with House Speaker Mike Johnson backing the administration's approach to budget management.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Patty Murray, continue to oppose the administration's actions, characterizing them as illegal power grabs that affect both red and blue states.
"In our country, when a court of law orders you to do something, you must obey no matter who you are, including, yes, the president," stated Bonta during a news conference, emphasizing the administration's obligation to comply with judicial orders.
The state attorneys general are now awaiting the court's response to their latest legal motions as they seek to restore funding flow to affected programs and services across the nation.