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Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta said Monday that their legal challenges to the Trump administration have protected more than $168 billion in federal funding coming into California.
“California’s early, proactive, and defensive actions have helped California maintain its values in the face of wholesale attacks against our families and communities, while also serving as a backstop against tyrannical actions by President Trump and those who aim to ignore the rule of law,” said Newsom. “As the federal government continues to attack our state, California will keep defending itself, its values, and its people.”
In coordination with Attorney General Bonta, California has filed 37 lawsuits, leading or co-leading 23 of them, and separately filed more than 40 amicus briefs in support of other litigation against the Trump administration in just six months.
In the 19 cases where California has sought and a district court has ruled on early relief, the state has succeeded in 17 of them with 13 orders blocking President Trump’s actions — which the state contends are illegal — currently in effect.
These actions have ensured that an estimated $168 billion continued to flow to the state through a single early lawsuit challenging what Newsom’s office said was the president’s “illegal and sweeping freeze of federal funding.”
California’s continued court actions have also protected an estimated $11.1 billion in federal grant funding from successive targeted efforts by the Trump administration to defend California’s values.
California has also secured concessions and reversals outside of court, including the Department of Education’s recent decision to restore funding it had illegally frozen just days after California filed a lawsuit.
“In his first week in office, President Trump went after a full-third of California’s budget — and we went to court less than 24 hours later and stopped him in his tracks. When the administration’s first effort to freeze all federal funding to California failed, it changed course, flooding the zone with near-constant attempts to cut off funding like a dangerous and unruly game of whack-a-mole,” said Bonta.
“But this is not a game,” Bonta continued. “We’re talking about people’s livelihoods, their health, their education, and in some cases even their lives. That’s why every time the president breaks the law, my office stands ready to take him to court. For every dollar we’ve been given by the Governor and the Legislature in Special Session funding, we’ve returned more than $33,600.”
Bonta said his team has been working around the clock to protect California’s people, values and resources in the face of relentless attacks.
“We know that this work is just the beginning, but we are not backing down. Too much is at stake, whether it be school programs for our kids, research for our future, medical care for our sick, or infrastructure that keeps our cars driving and planes in the air. California will continue to fight at every turn to hold the President and his Administration accountable to the Constitution they swore to uphold,” Bonta said.
A significant return on investment
In late 2024, Gov. Newsom convened a special session to set aside state money to pay for legal costs to combat then President-elect Trump’s administration.
With support from the Legislature, the state dedicated $25 million for the California Department of Justice and other state agencies to challenge and defend against actions by the Trump administration and another $25 million to support legal aid for vulnerable Californians in civil proceedings.
Newsom v. Trump: the unlawful federalization of the National Guard
In this emergency litigation, California challenged orders by President Trump to federalize the California National Guard. The federal government’s orders came without authorization from the governor and against the wishes of local law enforcement.
Nearly two months after the unlawful federalization of the California National Guard, and deployment of almost 5,000 soldiers in the Los Angeles area, all but 300 National Guard members are expected to go home soon. So far, 4,700 soldiers have demobilized or begun demobilizing.
Newsom’s office said Trump should allow the remaining soldiers to go back to their families, communities, and civilian professions as doctors, law enforcement and teachers. This case is going to trial, led by California Department of Justice attorneys, to establish that the military efforts on the ground violate federal law.
California’s early wins in court
Through litigation brought on by the California Department of Justice, the state has rejected the successive targeted efforts by the Trump administration to terminate, impound or condition specific funding for education, health care, transportation and more; defended constitutional rights like birthright citizenship and the right to vote; and stopped the dismantling of federal agencies like U.S. Health and Human Services and AmeriCorps, among other relief to the states.
One-third of the state’s budget: After the Office of Management and Budget issued a directive that purported to freeze nearly $3 trillion in federal funding, California led a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit challenging the directive. The California Department of Justice secured an immediate temporary restraining order and subsequent preliminary injunction, preserving roughly $168 billion in federal funding for California, representing about one-third of the State’s budget. These are tax dollars coming back into California, which contributes to the federal budget as a net-donor state.
Transportation funding: California receives approximately $7 billion in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation each year to support and maintain the roads, highways, railways, airways, and bridges that connect our communities and carry our residents to their workplaces and their homes. In June, the California Department of Justice secured a court order blocking the Department of Transportation from imposing unlawful immigration enforcement conditions on this grant funding.
Education funding: The California Department of Justice protected $939 million for California schools last week when the U.S. Department of Education reversed its decision to withhold vital education funding just weeks before the school year was set to start in the face of a multistate lawsuit. This funding supports key programs for after school and summer learning, teacher preparation, and to support students learning English.
Public health funding: The state also protected approximately $11 billion in critical public health funding nationwide, including roughly $972 million for California, through litigation challenging and subsequent court orders blocking the abrupt termination of federal funding for grants that provide essential support for a wide range of urgent public health needs, including identifying, tracking, and addressing infectious diseases; ensuring access to immunizations; and modernizing critical public health infrastructure.
Electric vehicle infrastructure funding: After the Trump Administration sought to withhold billions of dollars in funding approved by bipartisan majorities in Congress for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, California filed a lawsuit and secured a court order restoring more than $300 million in funding previously awarded to California.
Continuing to protect California values
Stopping the dismantling of our democracy: From his first days in office, President Trump has made clear his desire to eliminate many federal agencies and has sought to do so by dismantling the federal government from within. The California Department of Justice has fought to halt these efforts, securing court orders restoring AmeriCorps programs and funding; blocking the mass firing and restructuring of US HHS; and reversing the dismantling of several smaller agencies including the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Defending birthright citizenship: In the state attorney general’s first case against the second Trump administration, just one day after President Trump took office, the California Department of Justice filed a lawsuit challenging the President’s unconstitutional executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. At stake are an estimated 24,500 children born in California each year who would be denied the citizenship they are entitled to under the U.S. Constitution. The California Department of Justice, with a coalition of attorneys general from across the country, has won multiple court orders barring implementation of this order nationwide as litigation continues.
Safeguarding California’s sensitive private data: The state has filed multiple lawsuits to protect Californians’ personal and private data from misuse by the federal government. The California Department of Justice secured a court order blocking the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to access Americans’ financial data; sued the Trump administration for illegally sharing Medicaid data with ICE; and challenged the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s illegal demands that states turn over the sensitive and personal data of SNAP recipients.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has many cats and kittens waiting for new homes.
The kittens and cats at the shelter that are shown on this page have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
The shelter is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Firefighters continued to hold and strengthen the lines around a fire that broke out in Clearlake on Sunday, leading to short-term evacuations.
The Lake fire began at around 2:20 p.m. Sunday at Nacimiento Lake Drive and Oak Street, south of Borax Lake in Clearlake.
By Sunday evening, it was 340 acres and 25% contained, figures that held throughout Sunday night and early Monday morning, according to Cal fire.
The Sunday evening report from Cal Fire said the fire had exhibited “moderate to erratic fire behavior with short-range spotting,” but crews made progress.
The fire threatened multiple structures and fire engines were assigned to structure protection, officials said.
Cal Fire said air tankers concentrated at the head of the fire and put down a fire retardant line that tied into the dozer and hand lines established on the left flank and left shoulder near Pond Road. The right — or eastern most — flank of the fire was looking good Sunday evening.
The fast-moving fire prompted authorities to call for mandatory evacuations in four evacuation zones and advisory evacuations in two others.
The four evacuation orders covered areas that included 3,386 residents, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said forward progress on the fire was stopped at 6:15 p.m. and all evacuation warnings were lifted by 6:55 p.m.
Crews are to remain on site for the next couple of days, working on fortifying control lines and mopping up the interior of the fire, Cal Fire said.
In the meantime, officials said the assessment into any structures destroyed or damaged during the Lake fire is ongoing.
Resources assigned to the incident include 225 personnel, two helicopters, 25 engines, six dozers, three water tenders and six crews, according to the Sunday evening Cal Fire report.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss a proposal to pause commercial cannabis permitting while zoning rules are developed, and review Behavioral Health contracts totaling more than $19 million.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
At 9:30 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing on Northshore Fire Protection District’s request to raise fire mitigation fees with annual inflation adjustments.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will consider Supervisor Helen Owen’s proposal to place a moratorium — a temporary pause — on issuing permits for commercial cultivation of cannabis within the county’s unincorporated area. The item was held over from the July 15 meeting.
The staff memo noted that in March, the board disbanded a task force working on the county’s zoning ordinance that comprises the “Cannabis Ordinance.” Now, the Community Development Department staff is drafting a new article of the zoning ordinance.
Owen is proposing a temporary halt to permit issuance while the new regulations are developed.
“I have significant concern moving forward with additional permitting of Cannabis operations in the absence of appropriate regulation is not in the interest of our county and the residents we were elected to serve,” said Owen in the staff memo. “Pausing permit issuance and taking reasonable time to amend and adopt zoning regulations, as needed, make good sense.”
At least four votes from the five supervisors are required to adopt this interim urgency ordinance, according to the staff memo.
In the untimed items, the board will consider multiple county agreements on Behavioral Health services totaling $19,392,301.47.
Also under review is a three-year contract with Redwood Community Services for services to foster children and their families, in the amount of $485,000 per fiscal year, starting July 1, 2025.
The board will also be asked to officially accept the responsibility for the water and sewer systems in the Westlake Homes subdivision, after 32 years of not doing maintenance for the area, due to a “technicality.”
"Over the years Special District has not performed general maintenance inside the subdivision due to a technicality related to the actual acceptance of the water and wastewater lines and the piping materials that were installed may not have met County specifications," the staff memo noted.
In the closed session, the board will evaluate the Water Resources director and conduct interviews for the Public Works director position. The board will also discuss existing litigation regarding the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation designating the month of August 2025 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Lake County.
5.2: Adopt proclamation designating the month of August 2025 as Child Support Awareness Month.
5.3: Adopt the final Lake County Housing Action and Implementation Plan (HAIP), as amended.
5.4: Approve agreement between County of Lake—Lake County Behavioral Health Services as Lead Agency for the Lake County Continuum of Care and Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, Inc. in the amount of $184,000 for the period June 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Approve the second amendment to the agreement between the County of Lake and June Wilson-Clarkin, LMFT for Fiscal Year 2024–2025 to (1) authorize the contractor to initiate 5150 psychiatric holds upon designation and completion of required training, and (2) increase the contract maximum by $25,000 for a revised total of $110,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.6: Approve the updated bylaws of the Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH).
5.7: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes June 3, 2025, June 17, 2025, July 8, 2025, and July 15, 2025.
5.8: Approve Fiscal Year 2025/2026 renewal of Veterans Subvention Certificate of Compliance and Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Program Certificate of Compliance and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.9: Adopt resolution approving right of way certification for the Willow Tree Monitoring and Reporting Project for 14C-0048 N. Fork Cache Creek Bridge (Chalk Mountain Rd) Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLO-5914(135).
5.10: a) Adopt resolution approving right of way certification for Kelseyville Sidewalk Project, Federal Project No. HIPL-5914(133); and b) approve the plans and specifications for the Kelseyville Sidewalk Project and authorize the Public Works Director to advertise for bids.
5.11: (Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors) Authorize Special Districts Administrator/Assistant Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $220,000 to Sealing Systems, Inc. for the purchase of HDPE manhole inserts.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:02 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:04 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of August 2025 as Child Support Awareness Month.
6.4, 9:06 a.m.: a) Presentation of proclamation designating the month of August 2025 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Lake County; and b) consideration of presentation by Mother-Wise.
6.5, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of presentation of Community Development – CalRecycle Illegal Disposal Grant activities and results.
6.6, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing – Consideration of resolution approving Resolution No. 2025-5 submitted by Northshore Fire Protection District and making findings and requesting the County of Lake to implement fire mitigation fees with the automatic inflation pursuant to the Lake County Fire Mitigation Fee Ordinance FY 2025/2026.
6.7, 10:00 a.m.: Consideration of presentation on the UC Cooperative Extension Diversified Agriculture Program.
6.8, 10:30 a.m.: (Continued from July 15, 2025 meeting) Consideration of an interim urgency ordinance placing a moratorium on the issuance of use permits for commercial cultivation of cannabis within the unincorporated area of the County of Lake (recommendation to continue to a future date/time).
6.9, 11:00 a.m.: Consideration of an update on County Economic Development and Housing Initiatives.
6.10, 11:30 a.m.: Presentation of Community Development Department – Code Enforcement on Body Worn Camera Policies.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2: Consideration of Amendment No.1 to the agreement between the County of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises, Inc. for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services in the amount of $745,000 for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
7.3: Consideration of the agreement between County of Lake and California Psychiatric Transitions, Inc. for inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation services, inpatient competency restoration services, and professional services associated with inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation in the amount of $350,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
7.4: Consideration for approval of Amendment No.1 to the agreement between County of Lake and Lake County Office of Education-Safe Schools Healthy Students Program for school-based specialty mental health services in the amount of $825,000 for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
7.5: Consideration of the agreement between the County of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for ASAM Residential Level 3.1 & 3.5 and Intensive and Outpatient Levels of Care 1.0 & 2.1 in the amount of $2,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
7.6: Consideration of agreement between County of Lake and New Life Health Authority DBA New Life, LLC for substance use disorder outpatient drug free services, intensive outpatient treatment services, and narcotic treatment program services in an amount not to exceed $12,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
7.7: Consideration of agreement between County of Lake and Willow Glen Care Center for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
7.8: Consideration of agreement between County of Lake and Women’s Recovery Services ASAM Level 3.1 residential treatment services to continue vital SUD treatment services for Lake County residents in the not-to-exceed amount of $300,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
7.9: Consideration of the agreement between County of Lake and Archway Recovery Services, Inc. for ASAM Levels 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, and Withdrawal Management Levels 1 and 2 in the amount of $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
7.10: Consideration of the agreement between County of Lake and Redwood Quality Management Company, Inc. in the amount of $1,212,019.90 for Fiscal Years 2025-2029.
7.11: Consideration of the agreement between County of Lake and Sierra Pathways, a licensed social worker corporation, in the amount of $960,281.57 for Fiscal Years 2025-2027.
7.12: Consideration of update regarding Public Guardian Conservatee “BB”.
7.13: Consideration of contract between County of Lake and Redwood Community Services, Inc. for Wrap Around Services, in the amount of $485,000 per fiscal year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.14: Consideration to a) accept the water distribution system (previously known as the Western Mutual Water Company) inside the Westlake Homes subdivision; and b) accept the wastewater collection system inside the Westlake Homes subdivision.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1, 2 p.m.: Public employee evaluation: Water Resources director.
8.2, 4 p.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interviews for Public Works director and appointment of Public Works director.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Proceeding No. P-77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.4: Employee grievance complaint pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54957.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council this week will hold a public hearing to confirm a list of delinquent utility accounts, discuss letting the Lake County Arts Council operate the Silveira Community Center, and consider declaring a former transfer station site on Bevins Street as surplus property — a move to open the door to a future sale.
The council will meet Tuesday, August 5, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
The city council will hold a public hearing to confirm and approve the utility billing delinquency list of accounts owing utility fees from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025.
Once approved, the list will be submitted to the County Auditor-Controller for inclusion on the property tax roll.
Under council business, the council will consider declaring city-owned property at 910, 912, and 916 Bevins Street — totaling 2.09 acres — as “surplus property” and directing staff to issue a Notice of Availability under the state’s Surplus Land Act.
This step would allow the city to begin discussion about potentially selling the property.
The property used to be utilized by Lakeport Disposal as a transfer station until 15 years ago when the Waste Connections facilities were constructed on Soda Bay Road.
The staff report noted increasing interest in the site recently, “likely spurred by nearby development activities including Lake County Tribal Health’s expansion and the future courthouse project.”
“This action does not obligate the city to sell the property, but it is a necessary first step to preserve that option and respond appropriately to future opportunities,” the staff report said.
Following that, the council will consider sending a letter to State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant, voicing concerns about the adoption process for the new Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for local responsibility areas, which the city approved in June.
The council will also receive a six-month update on the Silveira Community Center interim operations and is asked to approve continuation of the temporary use plan
The city has been awarded a $1.27 million Community Development Block Grant to fund critical plumbing and ADA compliance upgrades, with construction targeted for completion in spring 2027.
As of now the center has been operating under an interim plan, approved by the council in January
In the meantime, city staff have been in talks with the Lake County Arts Council, which approached the city about relocating its gallery to the community center, after learning its current landlord intends to sell the gallery’s leased space, according to the staff report.
Rather than paying rent, the current discussion between the city and the Arts Council has focused on “the idea of exchanging Arts Council staff and volunteer time in lieu of rent.”
“The proposal envisions the Arts Council operating the community center in exchange for use of approximately 800–1,000 square feet of space,” the staff memo said. “With comparable retail space leasing at around $1 per square foot, the city would seek equivalent in-kind services.”
Although this proposed “partnership” is not up for council action this week, the staff report states that the Arts Council has identified mid-September as a target move-in date.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the previous meeting on July 15, 2025; approval of the warrant register for July 21, 2025; approval of application 2025-038, with staff recommendations, for the Cinema by the Shore event; approval of application 2025-039, with staff recommendations, for a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament at Xabatin Community Park; receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the Measure Z Advisory Committee’s July 16 meeting; and approval of out-of-state travel by Utilities Director Paul Harris and Finance Director Danielle Dizon to attend the American Water Works Association’s Water Infrastructure Conference & Exposition.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Resource Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service invite farmers, ranchers, agriculture professionals, range owners, forest landowners and other stakeholders to participate in the first meeting of the local work group of Lake County.
The meeting will be held in two sessions on Thursday, Aug. 7, in the Mendocino College Lake Center Round Room at 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.
Local work groups, or LWG, are held by Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, field offices in partnership with resource conservation districts to seek input on conservation programming at the local level.
The LWG creates a pathway for landowners and farmers to identify, prioritize and provide feedback on natural resource issues and related concerns within the county.
Input gathered at the local work group meeting will be submitted to the State Technical Committee to guide NRCS programs in California.
The LWG will bring together a diverse group of partners within Lake County to discuss, prioritize, and develop recommendations around local agricultural and forest health concerns.
Participation is open to nonprofit organizations, state and federal agencies, local governments, and members of the public with a vested interest in the natural resources of Lake County.
These meetings are required to be held annually, are advisory in nature, and have no enforcement or implementation authority.
This meeting of Lake County’s LWG will consist of two separate sessions.
Attendees will have the option of joining this meeting in-person or virtually via Zoom. The morning session, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., will focus on agriculture and rangeland, and the afternoon session, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., will focus on forest health and wildfire resilience.
Due to space constraints, please limit attendance to a maximum of three representatives per organization.
Please reach out to Wren Ward, LCRCD Forestry Technician, at
