Read the California DOJ Weekly Newsletter

Last week, we secured a $45 million settlement with Block that requires the company to immediately stop misleading customers, provide customer support, and honor its anti-fraud obligations under federal banking laws.  The deal also requires the company to honor a commitment that it made to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to provide relief to victims, even if the Trump Administration lets them off the hook. 

Customers deserve to trust what companies tell them is honest and reliable, especially when it comes to their money, and financial services companies have a duty to comply with the law and protect their customers — and the economy as a whole — against fraud. As Attorney General, I’m committed to protecting consumers and holding dishonest companies accountable to the law.

Winning the Fight for Consumer Protection

Block Inc. (Block) told Cash App customers that their money was just as safe and secure as in a bank — which is not true — and then left its customers high and dry when things went wrong. Consumers were stranded: unable to access their money, vulnerable to scammers, and without any recourse or even a phone number to call when they found themselves victims of fraud. As a part of a 46-state coalition, my office secured a $45 million settlement with Block over allegations that Cash App misled consumers regarding account security and failed to provide adequate customer support. Our settlement requires Block to immediately cease making misrepresentations, alert consumers of fraud, and provide customer service support to ensure consumers have someone to call when things go wrong. The agreement, secures $2.9 million for California, forces Block to improve security measures, and prevents the company from evading the payment of up to $120 million in consumer redress pursuant to a separate federal settlement.

Challenging the Trump Administration’s Continued Attacks on Critical Programs

The Trump Administration’s attempts to undermine critical housing and mental health programs have been met with legal challenges from our office. After courts sided with us and rejected the Administration’s arguments, it has continued pursuing new ways to achieve the same harmful results. This week, we announced lawsuits challenging its latest actions to divert federal funding away from permanent supportive housing projects and to terminate vital mental health grant funding from the schools that need it most. So long as President Trump and his Administration continue to disregard the law, we will continue using every tool available to hold them accountable.

Leading in Gun Violence Prevention

Once Again, Challenging Trump’s Illegal Tariffs

After his first two attempts to impose tariffs were declared illegal by the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the President is back at it again — this time illegally attempting to impose blanket tariffs on 59 countries and the European Union, which account for 99% of U.S. imports. My office co-led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in objecting to the Trump Administration’s proposed, unlawful tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 based on allegations that these countries fail to enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor. If implemented, these tariffs will add to the President’s largely failed tariff regime, which has inflicted chaos on the American economy and increased prices amid a crisis of affordability. We urge the Administration to immediately halt this attempt. Tariffs are taxes, and the American people cannot shoulder extra costs — no matter how much President Trump wants them to. California has pushed back and challenged these unlawful taxes time and time again because we stand with businesses, consumers, and families across the state and nation who are already struggling with rising costs.

Together with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), my office announced the arrest of a narcotics supplier accused of providing drugs to be smuggled into California State Prison, Solano. The arrest stems from a joint investigation launched in March 2025 by my office and CDCR. This is truly an example of the good work that happens when multiple agencies come together for one, unified mission. Stopping the distribution of illegal drugs isn’t just about enforcing the law, it is about protecting families, saving lives, and defending the future of our communities. Public safety is job number one, and California DOJ will continue to work for it, both in the courtroom and on the ground in our communities.

In response to growing concerns about the federal government seeking to entangle state and local agencies in immigration enforcement in ways that do not comport with the law, the California Legislature enacted Senate Bill 580 (Durazo, 2025). SB 580 requires the California Attorney General to develop and publish model policies that demonstrate how state and local agencies should interact with immigration enforcement officials in a manner that is lawful and consistent with California values. This virtual briefing will provide an overview of the new guidance and model polices and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions related to the new publication.