In a remarkable display of federal pressure on California, the Trump administration launched six separate actions against the state within a single day, escalating tensions between the Democratic stronghold and the president.
The rapid-fire series of federal interventions on Thursday targeted multiple areas, from education policies to law enforcement practices across California.
The day began with the U.S. Education Department challenging California's transgender student protection laws. Shortly after, federal officials revoked waivers that had allowed state colleges to include undocumented students in federally-funded programs.
By afternoon, the Justice Department announced investigations into potential affirmative action violations at Stanford University and three University of California schools, following the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling on race-based admissions. The Health and Human Services Department also launched a probe into alleged discrimination at a major California medical school.
The Agriculture Department joined the fray, notifying Governor Gavin Newsom about a pending review of education funding related to transgender protections. The day concluded with the Justice Department investigating the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department over alleged delays in processing concealed-carry permit applications.
These actions mark the latest chapter in an ongoing conflict between California and the Trump administration. The state previously filed over 120 lawsuits against Trump during his first term, while California voters rejected him by wide margins in both the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections - results Trump disputed with unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.
The timing and coordination of these multiple federal actions suggest a deliberate strategy to challenge California's policies across various sectors, from higher education to civil rights protections.