California attorney general says $207 billion saved through lawsuits against Trump administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California Attorney General Rob Bonta provided an in-depth update on the 82 lawsuits the state has filed against the Trump administration.
In a news conference Tuesday, Bonta touted the work as a good use of taxpayer money with a significant return on investment. According to Bonta, California taxpayers have so far spent $29 million on the litigation that he says has protected hundreds of billions of dollars in funds since January of 2025.
Bonta reported that 65 of the lawsuits remain active, while 21 have resulted in final orders favoring California. These orders have protected $207.1 billion in funds for Californians, Bonta said.
The lawsuits have been related to issues including the environment, healthcare, transportation, elections, public safety, and more. Some of the legal victories have involved healthcare research funding, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, tariffs, school funding, food assistance benefits, and offshore wind development. You can see the Attorney General’s report here.
“Trump’s second term unfortunately but not surprisingly been defined by a complete and total disregard for the law,” Bonta said during the update, which is required under state law as a condition of his office receiving additional funding for the lawsuits. “I think $29 million dollars for a return on investment of $207 billion, you take that all day every day.”
This update comes as Bonta campaigns for reelection as California attorney general.
His opponent, Republican Michael Gates, criticized the lawsuits, calling them politically motivated in an interview on California Politics 360 earlier this week.
“What we’re not going to engage in is we’re not going to engage in politically charged weaponization of the department of justice,” Gates said. “If there is some merit to challenging the federal government over something, that’s one thing, so I’m going to look at those lawsuits.”
California’s Democratic legislative leaders praised Bonta’s efforts.
“That isn’t politics, that’s responsible government that’s protecting taxpayers,” said California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.
Senate Pro Tem Monique Limón added, “With the help of Attorney General Rob Bonta, California has made progress in holding this administration accountable for violating the United States Constitution.”
One notable lawsuit not included in Bonta’s report was California’s case over $4 billion in high-speed rail funds, a case the state dropped in December.
Bonta explained that the case was excluded because it involved the representation of a “client,” the High-Speed Rail Authority.
The Trump administration has also filed 11 lawsuits against California, according to Bonta’s report.
These cases involve issues such as transgender student athletes, gun laws, voter roll audits, and state policies like California’s redistricting measure, Proposition 50.
While most of these cases are still pending, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed California to keep its Congressional District maps under Prop 50. However, the courts sided with the Trump administration in ruling that a state law prohibiting ICE officers from wearing masks violated federal law.
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