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The Trump Administration is attempting to claw back $7.9 billion in education funding for California’s K-12 schools because we will not bend to their will and abandon our commitment to promote equal access to education for all children.
Trump is jeopardizing the educations and futures of millions of children across our state — and he is breaking the law to do it. I won’t allow it.
This week, I co-led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to protect critical federal funding our schools are counting on — funding that Congress already approved. California won’t capitulate to Trump’s baseless attacks on entirely legal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, policies, and curriculum. As California’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, I will always stand by our state and nation’s civil rights laws and ensure all children have the chance to get an education.
In your corner,
Rob
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Suing Over Unlawful Conditions on K-12 Funding
 I was proud to co-lead a lawsuit this week challenging the Trump Administration's attempt to compel state and local education agencies to accept its new, legally incoherent interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts — or else risk immediate and catastrophic loss of federal education funds. Let me be clear: the U.S. Department of Education is not trying to ‘combat’ discrimination with its latest order. Instead, it is using our nation’s foundational civil rights law as a pretext to coerce states into abandoning lawful programs, policies, and curriculum. Once again, the President has exceeded his authority under the Constitution and violated the law, and we will hold him accountable.
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Combatting Organized Retail Crime
 Also this week, I announced the filing of felony charges against three people involved in a suspected identity theft mill and organized retail crime scheme. The scheme involved suspects applying for store credit cards using stolen identities, then using those credit lines to purchase merchandise with no intention to pay them back. As Attorney General, I am committed to using the full force of the California DOJ to fight organized retail crime both in the field and in the courtroom. We will not give up until we put a stop to this criminal activity altogether.
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Condemning Trump Administration's Campaign to Silence the Legal Sector
 Over the past two months, President Trump has issued an unprecedented series of executive orders imposing severe sanctions on law firms whose advocacy, clients, and lawyers he dislikes. Along with my fellow attorneys general, I continue to stand in strong support of those law firms pushing back against the Trump Administration's retaliatory actions. This week, I filed an amicus brief in support of Susman Godfrey's lawsuit seeking to block President Trump's executive order stripping the firm of active security clearances and terminating federal contracts with the firm and its clients, among other things. Everybody is entitled to legal access and vigorous representation without fear of retribution. If allowed to continue, the President's actions will have a chilling effect on attorneys nationwide, making it harder for lawyers to provide the critical legal services on which our courts and residents depend.
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Announcing New Funding to Promote a Healthier California
 California DOJ is now accepting proposals for the 2025-2026 Tobacco Grant Program, which will provide approximately $28.5 million in grant funding to eligible local agencies. The program aims to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to our youth. Information on the application process is available at oag.ca.gov/tobaccogrants. California DOJ will also hold a Zoom webinar on Wednesday, April 30 at 10:00 AM PT to provide guidance to those interested in applying for the Tobacco Grant Program. To RSVP for the webinar, please click here.
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Making Your Life Affordable
 From groceries to gas, costs seem to be rising and rising ... and rising. California DOJ has your back and is committed to protecting California families grappling with the high cost of living. In this segment, find some of the ways California DOJ is protecting Californians — and their wallets.
Hot Tip: That text offering you a high-paying job out of the blue that sounds too good to be true? It's most likely a scam!
What We Did: Earlier this month, my office alerted Californians to job recruitment scams through which bad actors trick consumers into providing money or personal information by posing as employers or recruiters.
What This Means to You: According to the Federal Trade Commission, losses from these types of scams are growing and have have nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, with consumers losing $501 million in 2024. Job recruitment scams prey on Californians' hope for better opportunities and end up leaving victims without a job and out thousands of dollars. As job recruiting scams become more popular, I urge Californians to exercise caution and remember that honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job or ask you to cash a check for them and return the funds. Spread the word: if a stranger offers you a job you didn’t apply for, it’s most likely a scam. To learn about more ways our office is keeping California consumers safe, please visit our Consumer Alert page.
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Keeping You Safe: Fentanyl Seizures
 Three years ago, I established the statewide Fentanyl Enforcement Program to detect, disrupt, and dismantle fentanyl criminal enterprises and prevent fentanyl from reaching our neighborhoods and communities. Our investigative teams are spread throughout the state, placed in San Diego, Los Angeles, the Sacramento Valley, and the Bay Area. So far, our fentanyl seizures have totaled approximately 14,388,800 fentanyl pills, 6,740 pounds of powder, and over 490 arrests. Too many people are unaware that the illicit street drugs they’re buying may be laced with a poison that can kill them with as little as two milligrams – that looks like a few grains of salt. That is why my office is committed to getting this lethal drug out of our communities.
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Post of the Week
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FLASH BRIEFING
Attorney General Bonta Celebrates Denial of En Banc Review in Huntington Beach’s Federal Challenge to State Housing Laws
Attorney General Bonta Urges Congress to Fund Civil Legal Assistance for Low-Income Americans
Attorney General Bonta Defends FCC Order Capping the Cost of Phone and Video Call Rates for Incarcerated People and Their Families
Attorney General Bonta Announces Sentencing of Former Sutter Roseville Nursing Assistant for Theft from Elders
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Video of the Week
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 To mark my fourth anniversary as California’s Attorney General, I thought I’d take a little trip down memory lane and do some show and tell!
Being AG has been the honor of a lifetime and the best job I’ve ever had.
I can’t wait to see what the next few years brings.
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Make a Difference at California DOJ
 Apply today to help the California DOJ protect the health, well-being, and public safety of Californians. Check out our featured jobs below and visit oag.ca.gov/careers for a full listing of available positions:
Deputy Attorney General IV, Land Use and Conservation
Deputy Attorney General Supervisor, DMFEA Criminal Prosecutions Section
Deputy Attorney General III, Correctional Law
Deputy Attorney General III, Licensing Section
Deputy Attorney General III, Employment Law Section
Senior Assistant Attorney General, Police Practices Section
Senior Java Developer, Application Development Bureau
Payroll and Benefits Program Manager, Office of Human Resources
Paralegal, Licensing Section
Accounting Officer, Accounting Office
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