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This week, I blocked the Trump Administration from cruelly and unlawfully freezing $10 billion for child care and family assistance programs in California and four other Democratic-led states under the unsubstantiated guise of “fraud.”
Despite providing zero evidence of any alleged fraud, the Administration tried to freeze funding that millions of lower-income Californians rely on for safe and reliable childcare, job training, housing assistance, and more.
Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of good government, especially when we are talking about spending taxpayer money. That was not President Trump’s goal. This was a baseless, political attack to punish states that have taken a stand against the President’s bluster, bullying, and blatant lawlessness. The unfortunate reality is that vulnerable children and their families are the ones hit hardest by Trump’s endless vendetta.
For the 53rd time in under a year, I have taken Trump to court, this time to ensure California families can continue to access the support they need and deserve.
Your Attorney General,
Rob
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Unfreezing $10 Billion in Federal Funding for Child Care and Family Assistance Programs
 Again and again, President Trump has shown a willingness to throw vulnerable children, seniors, and families under the bus if he thinks it will advance his vendetta against Democratic-led states. Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) imposed a $10 billion funding freeze because of “serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars.” However, HHS failed to provide any evidence at all to support those claims. My fellow attorneys general did not hesitate to take the Trump Administration to court, and less than 24 hours later, we secured a temporary restraining order blocking the unlawful funding freeze. We won’t stop fighting until we block the funding freeze permanently.
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Protecting Funding for Universities and Research Institutions
 The Trump Administration wanted to eviscerate funding for medical research that helps develop new cures and treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Let that sink in: Life-saving research — proudly happening at UCs and CSUs across our state — was under attack. Earlier this year, my fellow attorneys general and I stepped in to stop these illegal actions. The district court sided with us, and this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit did, too. The First Circuit wrote that “the public-health benefits of NIH-funded research are enormous” and concluded that the Trump Administration's actions were unlawful.
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Fighting Trump Administration’s Demands for Personal Data of SNAP Recipients
 The Trump Administration’s latest demand for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to get around an existing court order. SNAP is a federally funded, state-administered program that provides billions of dollars in food assistance to tens of millions of low-income families across the country. This week, I urged the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to enforce its previous order, and block further threats by the Trump Administration to withhold federal funding if states don’t comply with its illegal demands. We will not be bullied into turning over the private, sensitive data of SNAP recipients in California. If the Trump Administration wants to stop losing in court, it should stop breaking the law. It’s that simple.
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Addressing Unlawful Enrollment Practices in Sacramento Schools
 Every student has the right to equal access to a quality public education. That starts with enrollment. My team conducted a thorough investigation of the Sacramento City Unified School District’s enrollment practices and, this week, announced a settlement to address unlawful enrollment policies and practices that unfairly disadvantaged students of color, students with limited English proficiency, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and students experiencing homelessness or in foster care. I am confident that that Sacramento City Unified School District will implement these necessary reforms to ensure that state laws are followed and no one is unfairly disadvantaged when it comes to enrolling their kids in school.
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Keeping You Safe
 This week, a Yolo County jury convicted Paul Allen Perez of multiple murders and one count of assault on a child under eight with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death. The conviction resolves a cold case that revolved around the murders of five infants between 1992 and 2001.
The prosecution was handled by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, and California DOJ’s Bureau of Forensic Services (BFS) provided assistance to the investigating agencies. In 2017, BFS’s Missing Persons DNA Program and Cal-DNA Data Bank collaborated to identify a DNA kinship link that led to a breakthrough in this cold case. It is a powerful example of how innovative scientific techniques provide a voice for victims of crime. I am extremely proud of the dedication and expertise shown by our BFS, which provided a pathway to justice.
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Making Your Life Affordable
 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.
What We Did: Last month, my office sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (tax credits) that are part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These tax credits are designed to help bring down the high cost of healthcare for millions of Americans by lowering the amount people pay each month for their health insurance premium. The tax credits, unfortunately, expired at the end of 2025.
Why This Matters: Congressional Republicans have, to date, refused to do the right thing and extend the tax credits without any strings attached. As a result, premiums will rise, on average, by over $1,000 a month — that is about a third of the average Californian's rent or the monthly grocery bill for a family of three. For many, this is an inconceivable amount of money to pay on top of monthly expenses. Facing those rising costs, many Americans will have to completely leave the health insurance system, which will jeopardize their health and raise costs — because as we know, delaying care can often turn minor problems into expensive emergencies. I have urged, and continue to urge, Congressional Republicans to take action now. People are hurting.
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CARE Corner
 Our Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE) within California DOJ focuses on cultivating relationships with historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Recently, CARE Deputy Director Maheen Ahmed was the opening speaker at the California Asian Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian Legislative Caucus Institute Staff Academy, which took place in Sacramento. She spoke about the work of Attorney General Bonta, the Office of CARE, as well as her own experience as a South Asian public servant and alumna of the program.
To learn more about the Office of CARE, please visit our webpage: https://oag.ca.gov/care
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Post of the Week
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FLASH BRIEFING
Attorney General Bonta Challenges Further Transfer of Core Functions Away from U.S. Department of Education
Attorney General Bonta Slams Trump Administration’s Attempt to Further Dismantle Safeguards for Nation’s Waters
Attorney General Bonta Announces Publication of Unflavored Tobacco List
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Video of the Week
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 I joined MS Now's Jen Psaki to discuss the National Guard and California’s efforts to hold the Trump Administration accountable for its lawlessness.
The facts and the law are on our side. We’ll continue to fight.
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Make a Difference at California DOJ
 Apply today to help 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, OGC Ethics Unit
Deputy Attorney General III, Correctional Law
Deputy Attorney General IV, DMFEA Facilities Enforcement Team
Deputy Attorney General IV, Business Litigation
Deputy Attorney General IV, DMFEA Civil Section
Deputy Director of Legislative Fiscal Policy, Office of Legislative Affairs
Project Management Office Supervisor, Enterprise Services Bureau
Legal Analyst, DMFEA Facilities Enforcement Team
Tribal Data Manager, Justice Data and Investigative Services Bureau
Legislative and Public Records Act Analyst, DLE Office of the Chief
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