California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a significant court ruling against the Trump Administration regarding federal funding. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has enforced its previous order, mandating the Trump Administration to lift its freeze on up to $3 trillion in federal funds. This decision came after state attorneys general filed a motion, citing ongoing blockages of crucial state funding by the administration.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized the impact of this decision on California's initiatives, stating, "The Trump Administration continued to improperly freeze vital federal funding more than a week after a court ordered it not to, jeopardizing California’s efforts to strengthen domestic energy security and the construction of critical infrastructure projects." He further stressed that "No Administration is above the law," highlighting past successes in curbing presidential overreach.
The litigation involves a coalition led by Attorney General Bonta and includes attorneys general from New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The case addresses funding under acts such as the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, along with allocations for the National Institutes of Health.
Bonta reiterated his commitment to holding administrations accountable: "In every case we’ve filed to date, state attorneys general have successfully restrained the President’s abuse of executive power – and we will continue to hold him accountable; our democratic institutions depend on it."
The court's directive requires immediate compliance from the Trump Administration while legal proceedings continue.