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This week, California took action once again to protect families, workers, and businesses from illegal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Last year, we went to court to challenge the President’s attempt to impose sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with us and struck those tariffs down as unlawful.
Instead of respecting that decision, the President doubled down, raising tariffs again and now claiming authority under an outdated provision of the Trade Act of 1974 that has never been used this way.
These tariffs raise prices for families, increase costs for businesses, and create instability for the millions of Californians whose livelihoods depend on an affordable, predictable economy. Simply put, the law doesn’t allow this, and we won’t stand by while it’s broken. So we’re taking him to court — again.
When the President acts outside his authority, we will continue to step in and defend our people, our economy, and the rule of law.
In solidarity,
Rob
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Suing President Trump over Unlawful Tariffs AGAIN
 This week, I joined Governor Newsom and a multistate coalition in announcing a new lawsuit challenging President Trump’s imposition of global tariffs using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The lawsuit argues that the President’s use of Section 122 to impose tariffs is illegal because the President’s justifications for its use do not fall within the limited circumstances required by the statute. The President is once again attempting to use an obscure law as a tool for his tariffs, and is yet again, going about it illegally. California has challenged the illegal imposition of tariffs time and time again because this question matters enormously for Californians who are already struggling with rising costs. I will continue to fight to make life more affordable for Californians.
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Demanding Accountability from GoFundMe
 One of the things that makes California great is our giving spirit. It is important that Californians donating their hard-earned money can be sure that fundraising platforms are acting in good faith. That’s why, this week, along with 21 attorneys general and charitable regulators, I sent a letter to GoFundMe, following reports that the platform plagiarized donation web pages for charities nationwide without their prior knowledge or consent. The letter expresses grave concerns about GoFundMe’s misconduct and demands immediate remedial measures, including that GoFundMe provide proof that it has removed all unauthorized donation web pages, in the next 14 days. This conduct harms charities, erodes public trust, and sets a dangerous precedent that ultimately harms the people and causes that charities support. GoFundMe must fix the damage it has caused and prove it has removed all of its plagiarized web pages.
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Challenging the Trump Administration’s Withholding of Disaster Relief, Transportation Funding
 Since taking office, the Trump Administration has made numerous attempts to strip funds from states whose policies it disagrees with, including those that refuse to use their limited resources to assist with the President’s inhumane mass deportation agenda. California has been at the forefront of putting a stop to the President’s illegal actions, and this week we challenged the Trump Administration’s threatened cuts to $900 million in transportation funding and withholding of over $1.3 billion in disaster relief funding to four Democratic-led states, including long-delayed disaster aid, funding for freight and highway projects, and funding to expand access to electric vehicle charging along major transportation corridors and in underserved communities. The President must back away from this latest misguided attack, or he can expect to face yet more losses in court.
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Ensuring Aspiring Healthcare Professionals Can Access Necessary Student Loans
 This week, I joined a multistate coalition in opposing the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed rule that would exclude students seeking graduate degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and other health professions from eligibility for higher student loan borrowing limits. This change would make it harder for these vital healthcare workers to pursue advanced degrees, threatening the operations of healthcare systems in California and across the country. These healthcare professionals are vital to keeping our healthcare system running and our citizens healthy — especially in rural and underserved areas. I urge the Trump Administration to reverse course — this proposed rule will only exacerbate the ongoing healthcare accessibility crisis.
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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
What We Did: This week, my office celebrated National Consumer Protection Week by sharing tips and issuing a consumer alert warning Californians to beware of Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams.
What This Means to You: In 2024, American consumers lost almost $2.95 billion to imposter scams, including $789 million in government-imposter scams. Scammers are relentless and emboldened by technological advancements and show few signs of slowing. My office is on it, sounding the alarm on cruel immigration scams, government imposter scams, scams targeting our military community, and fighting on in our war against robocalls, which are often a vehicle for harmful scams. I urge Californians not to click on links in texts asking for personal information, to visit only official websites, and to talk to friends and family who may be unaware of the dangers of scams.
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Keeping You Safe
 My office filed charges this week against 14 individuals for their roles in a scheme to evade the reporting of over $20 million in luxury vehicles purchases in order to avoid payment of over $1.8 million in taxes to the state of California. The individuals were charged in a 56-count complaint with conspiracy, filing false sales tax returns, failing to file tax returns, perjury, and money laundering. This investigation was a partnership between California DOJ, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. When bad actors abuse legal loopholes and submit fraudulent documents to evade their obligations, California DOJ will not stand idly by. Every dollar of unpaid taxes is a dollar taken from California’s roads, schools, and the vital services our communities rely on. Schemes that defraud the government of millions in taxpayer money will not be tolerated and these charges prove that.
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CARE Corner
 Efrain Botello-Cisneros, Central Valley Community Outreach Manager, attended the Happy Holi Celebration in Tracy, California. The celebration was hosted by Tracy Residents Empowered Advocates of Change (REACH), a nonprofit dedicated to uniting the community, raising community concerns, and creating awareness to achieve a safe, healthy, and better future for Tracy residents.
Reach out to the Community Outreach Manager for your region to learn more about our Office of CARE. Find their contact information below.
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Post of the Week
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Video of the Week
 Instead of accepting the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, Trump doubled down.
We’re suing.
For us, this isn’t about political gamesmanship—it’s about making sure our communities aren’t paying the price for Trump’s inability to take an L.
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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, Civil Rights Enforcement Section
Deputy Attorney General IV, Facilities Enforcement Team Criminal Prosecutions
Deputy Attorney General IV, Facilities Enforcement Team Civil Litigation
Deputy Attorney General IV, Healthcare Rights and Access
Deputy Attorney General Supervisor, Antitrust Law
Director, Office of Fiscal Services
Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of Firearms
Assistant Bureau Director, Bureau of Investigation
Legal Support Supervisor, Legal Support Operations
Sharepoint Developer, Application Development Bureau
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