Image Credit:
Less than a month into the Second Trump Administration, and the president is already making good on his promises to restore law and order and merit-based success in the country — largely through controlling the flow of federal funding. But California’s pockets are being hit the hardest, and liberal politicians are outraged.
Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform California and State Assemblymember, applauds the move and says the state’s Democrat politicians are to blame for putting these funds at risk.
"California’s liberal politicians need to clean up their act or risk federal funding — it's that simple!" DeMaio says.
"For years, they have wasted taxpayer dollars on incentivizing illegal immigration, radical indoctrination in universities, and policies that only make life harder for California families - and now they’re finally facing consequences and being held accountable for their waste of our tax dollars and negligence," DeMaio adds.
The funding at stake affects a host of programs and policies in the state, and comes in addition to ongoing talks over federal aid for LA fire recovery.
The Trump administration’s action targets billions of dollars in federal grants and discretionary funds, including:
Notably, as one of her first acts as the newly sworn-in U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi immediately cut off federal funding to so-called “Sanctuary Cities” who are in violation of federal law for shielding illegal immigrants from deportation by federal authorities. Many of these cities are in California — as the state considers itself a “Sanctuary State.” This move to cut funding came days after the State Legislature approved $50 million in taxpayer funding to “Trump-Proof” California and help keep illegal immigrant felons in the state, as well as fund their own lawyers if they're found in violation of federal law for aiding criminals.
"California politicians are used to acting with zero accountability," DeMaio says. "Now that President Trump is holding them responsible, they’re crying foul. But the law is clear — states that refuse to follow federal law shouldn’t expect to keep receiving federal funds."
President Trump this week also signed an executive order to eliminate race-based Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and preferences from federal departments — and threatened to withhold federal grant funding from universities if they don’t cut their own DEI practices. The move is part of Trump’s effort to restore merit-based success. But, many of the universities affected by federal grants are in California.
"Democrats in California have prioritized radical ideology over the needs of hardworking taxpayers," says DeMaio. "President Trump is proving he won’t let them get away with it anymore."
Liberal politicians are already filing lawsuits to try to block the funding cuts, claiming they violate the Constitution. But DeMaio says these legal challenges are nothing more than a political stunt.
Reform California is calling on concerned citizens to fight back against the radical policies of liberal Sacramento politicians and hold them accountable.
"The only way to fix this mess is to flip key seats in 2026 and elect leaders who will put California citizens first, comply with federal law, stop incentivizing illegal immigration — and finally secure the border!" DeMaio says.
.jpg)
