Rep. Min: “Withholding funds that are meant to go to California would not only be blatantly lawless, but it would also have devastating impacts for the people of our state, including millions who voted for you in the last election”
Washington, D.C. — Following new reporting that President Trump is planning to cancel significant amounts of federal funding to California, Representative Dave Min (CA-47) sent a letter to the president calling out the illegality of funding cuts motivated by “vengeance and political retribution aimed at our state.”
“Your withholding of funds that have been appropriated would constitute a direct attack on the separation of powers that is at the heart of our democratic republic,” said Rep. Min.
He also requested the president confirm whether he intends to cancel significant federal funding to California and, if the administration does intend to cut funding, to provide a list of all planned funding cancellations, and the legal and Constitutional basis for these cancellations. Rep. Min requested answers by Monday, June 9, 2025.
Rep. Min serves on the House Oversight Committee. As a former SEC Enforcement attorney and UC Irvine law professor, he has led the charge to hold the Trump administration accountable for its flagrant and continuing attacks on the rule of law.
The full letter can be found here and below.
June 6, 2025
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Trump:
I write to express my grave concerns about recent reports that you plan to cancel significant amounts of federal funding to California, which could begin as soon as today. I request a timely and immediate response clarifying whether you do intend to cancel federal funding to California, and if so, what your legal rationale is for doing so.
As you have likely seen, CNN has reported that your administration intends to withhold large portions of federal funding to California, including to the University of California and California State University systems. These cuts appear to be clearly and on their face illegal and motivated by vengeance and political retribution aimed at our state. As you know, there is no basis for a President to withhold federal funding for retaliatory reasons, and the Constitution is quite clear that Congress—and only Congress—has the authority to appropriate funds. Your withholding of funds that have been appropriated would constitute a direct attack on the separation of powers that is at the heart of our democratic republic.
Withholding funds that are meant to go to California would not only be blatantly lawless, but it would also have devastating impacts for the people of our state, including millions who voted for you in the last election. California is the fourth largest economy in the world – the state contributes $83 billion more in taxes to the federal government than we receive. Not only does California provide key taxpayer funding to uplift Americans of all political stripes, but we have been a clear leader in developing the research and innovation that has ensured that America remains the strongest economy and greatest country in the world. Our world-class colleges and universities have been instrumental to this innovation, whether in agriculture, healthcare, financial technology, cybersecurity, and so much more, and illegally withholding funding from our higher education institutions would have a devastating impact on the near- and long-term economic prospects of California and America more broadly.
Given the gravity of these cuts and their potential impacts for Californians, especially when it comes to health care, education, and public safety, I respectfully request that you provide a response to the following questions by Monday, June 9, 2025.
- Does your administration plan to withhold, cancel, cut, or freeze federal funding that is currently meant to go to California, including to higher education institutions based in our state?
- If your administration does intend to illegally withhold, cancel, cut, or freeze funding to California, what specific programs, grants, or other disbursements will be affected, in what amounts, on what timeline?
- What is the legal and Constitutional basis for any withholding, cancellations, cuts, or freezes to funding to California?
Any significant move to cut federal funding to California would be outrageous, illegal, and set a dangerous precedent. It also would have devastating impacts for our residents, whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or independents. I urge you, in the strongest terms, to reconsider this proposal. This targeted political vengeance is a threat to our democracy and an offense to California and every American.
Thank you for your attention to this deeply concerning and urgent situation.
Sincerely,
Representative Dave Min
