California governor signs 2 'Trump-proofing' bills a day after returning from DC trip

Lia Russell, The Sacramento Bee on Feb 7, 2025

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to try to have it both ways.

On Friday, a day removed from his trip to Washington where he made a show of deference to President Donald Trump, Newsom signed into law two bills meant to curtail the Trump administration’s agenda from taking hold in California.

Newsom traveled to the nation’s capital this week to discuss federal disaster aid for California after a series of wildfires devastated Los Angeles last month. The governor took pains to soften his liberal attack dog image, praising the president as a cooperative partner during crisis. He did not acknowledge the California Legislature’s passage of two bills earlier this week setting aside $25 million for the Department of Justice for future lawsuits against the federal government, and another $25 million for organizations to defend immigrants in court.

Newsom announced he had signed the legislation late Friday afternoon with a curt declaration: “None of the funding in this bill is intended to be used for immigration-related legal services for noncitizens convicted of serious or violent felonies.”

Legislative Republicans previously criticized the bills on those grounds. Democrats, sensitive to perceptions of being soft on crime, briefly delayed a planned vote, but did not say why.

The legislature gave final approval to the two bills Monday.

It’s unclear when California, which has already approved $2.5 billion in state funds for recovery and cleanup, will receive federal money. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that any aid will be contingent upon the Golden State adopting policies to prevent future blazes.

Newsom began laying the groundwork in recent weeks to repair his relationship with Trump, whom he previously sparred with in the wake of the November election and the fires. Trump, who referred to the governor as “Newscum,” claimed he addressed reports of low water pressure in Los Angeles fire hydrants by flooding Central Valley farms.

In response, the governor suggested the president was uneducated about water policy, and declined to criticize him when asked about Democrats’ response to the brief pause in federal funding for state governments.

The two eventually embraced on the tarmac after Newsom greeted Trump as the president landed in Los Angeles to survey the wildfire damage and meet with local officials.