California Democratic lawmakers are pushing a controversial proposal to allocate $50 million from the state budget to combat policies from the incoming Trump administration and protect illegal migrants from deportation, even as the state grapples with one of the most devastating and costly wildfire disasters in its history.
The plan, unveiled during Governor Gavin Newsom’s special legislative session on Thursday, proposes splitting the funds between two priorities: $25 million for the state Department of Justice to pursue lawsuits against the Trump administration and $25 million in grants for immigration advocacy nonprofits aiming to shield undocumented migrants from detention and deportation.
READ: California Braces For More Wildfire Danger As Winds Could Re-Ignite Massive Blazes
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers, who argue that the state’s focus should be on addressing the immediate wildfire disaster, which has destroyed more than 10,000 structures and is estimated to cause upwards of $20 billion in insured losses, according to JP Morgan.
“This funding agreement cements California’s readiness to serve as a bulwark against Trump’s extremist agenda,” said State Senate Budget Committee Chair Scott Wiener in a statement to Politico. Wiener and other Democratic leaders have defended the move as essential to protecting California’s progressive policies and immigrant communities in the face of anticipated federal challenges under President-elect Donald Trump.
Critics of the plan, including Republican lawmakers, have condemned what they see as misplaced priorities. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher blasted the proposal, calling it a “slush fund” and arguing that it diverts critical resources from the wildfire recovery and prevention efforts.
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“At a time when California should be laser-focused on responding to the devastating wildfires in LA, Democrat lawmakers’ priority is creating a $50 million slush fund to hire government lawyers for hypothetical fights against the federal government and to defend criminal illegal immigrants,” Gallagher wrote on social media Sunday. “The disconnect between what Californians need and what Democrats are focused on is astounding.”
State Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones echoed these sentiments, calling for a special session dedicated to wildfire disaster relief and fire prevention strategies. “We shouldn’t be focused on ‘Trump-proofing’ California. We should be focused on fire-proofing California,” Jones said in a floor speech last week.
The budget proposal has become even more contentious after reports surfaced of an illegal migrant allegedly attempting to start fires with a flamethrower near the Kenneth Fire on Thursday. The incident has fueled Republican calls for stricter immigration enforcement and redirected attention to the broader challenges posed by California’s sanctuary state policies.
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Governor Newsom, a vocal critic of Trump, has framed the $50 million allocation as a necessary step to defend California’s values and protect vulnerable populations. “California has always stood as a beacon of hope and resilience, and we will not allow federal overreach to undermine our commitment to equity and justice,” Newsom said in a press release.
Amid the political dispute, the Biden administration has pledged to cover 100% of California’s wildfire disaster costs for the first 180 days, a move that has provided temporary relief as the state battles to recover. However, the scale of the disaster has raised questions about the state’s long-term preparedness and resource allocation.
Republican lawmakers have called for an urgent reevaluation of California’s wildfire prevention measures, including investments in controlled burns, forest management, and emergency response infrastructure. “This is not the time for political grandstanding,” said Gallagher. “Californians need real solutions to prevent the next catastrophic wildfire, not partisan battles with Washington.”
READ: California GOP Torches Newsom For ‘Tone Deaf’ Session To ‘Trump-Proof’ State Amid Wildfires
As California faces immense pressure to balance disaster recovery with the looming challenges of a new federal administration, the $50 million proposal has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over the state’s priorities. With tens of thousands of residents displaced and billions of dollars in damage, the question remains: should California focus on combating federal policies or addressing its own pressing emergencies?
The legislature is expected to debate the budget allocation in the coming weeks, with Republican lawmakers promising to push for greater disaster relief funding. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are determined to position California as a bastion of resistance against what they anticipate will be aggressive federal actions under the Trump administration.
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