AG Bonta Wins Appeal Blocking Federal Funding Freeze

CA Attorney General Press Releases

Filed March 16th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an appellate victory blocking a federal funding freeze initiated by the Trump Administration. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction, protecting an estimated $168 billion in annual federal funding for California.

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What changed

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has upheld a preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration's broad freeze on federal funding, a move co-led by California. This decision protects approximately $168 billion in annual federal funding for California that was at risk. The court found the administration's directive to be harmful, reckless, and unreasoned.

This appellate victory signifies a win for state attorneys general who have challenged numerous federal actions. The ruling ensures continued federal funding for essential programs such as Medicaid, clean energy, disaster recovery, and education. Regulated entities and government agencies relying on this federal funding can continue to do so without interruption, as the preliminary injunction remains in effect.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Bonta Celebrates Major Appellate Victory in Challenge to President Trump’s Sweeping Federal Funding Freeze

Press Release
Attorney General Bonta Celebrates Major Appellate Victory in… Monday, March 16, 2026 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement on a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upholding a preliminary injunction in multistate litigation, co-led by California, challenging the Office of Management and Budget’s $3 trillion federal funding freeze. At risk in California was an estimated $168 billion in annual federal funding.

“Today, the First Circuit affirmed what we all know to be true: The Trump Administration’s sweeping directive to unilaterally freeze all federal funding in its first days in office was deeply harmful, reckless, and wholly unreasoned,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Since this case was first filed, state attorneys general have stood together dozens more times to successfully block the President’s unlawful actions. Whether it’s Medicaid, clean energy, disaster recovery, or education funding at risk — or in this case, all of the above — we won’t back down, and we won’t stop winning. As Attorney General, I’ll continue to stand up for Californians up and down the state against whatever the President throws at us next.”