California among states suing Trump administration over order to dismantle library agency
The lawsuit challenges Executive Order No. 14238, signed by President Donald Trump in March, which directs agencies such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to eliminate all functions not explicitly required by law and to slash staff and services to the statutory minimum.
California, 19 states suing Trump administration over massive layoffs at Department of Education
'The Trump Administration is once again violating the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law by attempting to unilaterally shut down agencies the President doesn't like,' Bonta said in a statement. 'Dismantling these agencies would have a devastating impact on the public and states across the nation.'
According to the lawsuit, the order also instructs the Office of Management and Budget to withhold funding already allocated by Congress for services beyond the statutory minimum — a move the attorneys general argue is unconstitutional.
'These agencies serve as the backbone of economic and cultural advancement in our communities,' Bonta said. 'The administration's efforts to incapacitate them are not only cruel but blatantly illegal.'
Through IMLS's Grants to States Program, the California State Library received $15.7 million in federal funding to support statewide library programs and staffing. However, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office, over 21% of that funding has yet to be sent to California.
This marks California's 12th lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
a few seconds ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
In his push for fairness in college admissions, Trump has been silent on legacy preferences
WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump attempts to reshape college admissions, he's promising a new era of fairness, with an emphasis on merit and test scores and a blind eye toward diversity. Yet the Republican president's critics — and some allies — are questioning his silence on admissions policies that give applicants a boost because of their wealth or family ties. While he has pressed colleges to eliminate any possible consideration of a student's race, he has made no mention of legacy admissions, an edge given to the children of alumni, or similar preferences for the relatives of donors. Trump often rails against systems he describes as 'rigged,' but he has overlooked a glaring instance in higher education, said Richard Kahlenberg, a researcher at the Progressive Policy Institute think tank who has written about admissions. 'It's hard to think of a more flagrant way in which the system is rigged than legacy preferences,' Kahlenberg said. 'Rarely is a system of hereditary privilege so openly practiced without any sense of shame.' In recent weeks, Trump has taken several actions to scrub any vestiges of race from admissions decisions, suggesting that some schools are ignoring a 2023 Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action. His administration negotiated settlements with Brown and Columbia universities that included provisions to share admissions data. Last week, Trump issued a call for colleges nationwide to submit data to prove they do not consider race in admissions. Some are urging Trump to go further. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., applauded the settlement with Brown requiring the university to turn a blind eye toward race — even in application essays. But 'restoring meritocracy warrants more,' said Young, who cosponsored legislation in 2023 aiming to end legacy admissions. 'Federally accredited institutions should eliminate ALL preferences grounded in arbitrary circumstances of ancestry that students have no control over, such as legacy status,' Young said on social media. Many selective colleges consider family ties Sometimes called 'affirmative action for the rich,' the practice of legacy admissions remains widespread among elite colleges even as it faces mounting bipartisan opposition. Virginia's Republican governor signed a bill last year barring legacy admissions at public institutions, following similar measures in Colorado, California and elsewhere. Some Republicans in Congress have worked with Democrats on proposals to end it nationwide. Roughly 500 universities consider legacy status when evaluating applicants, including more than half of the nation's 100 most selective U.S. schools, according to 2023 disclosures to the federal government. A few have abandoned the policy, but it remains in place at all eight Ivy League schools. Stanford University said in July it will continue considering legacy status, even after a California law barred it at institutions that receive state financial aid. Stanford opted to withdraw from the state's student financial aid program rather than end the practice. The university said it will replace the funding with internal money — even as it begins layoffs to close a $140 million budget deficit. Stanford officials declined to comment. Last year, as part of a state transparency law, the school reported that about 14% of its new students were relatives of alumni or donors. A push for merit, but no mention of legacy admissions The executive action signed by Trump last week requires universities to turn over more information about students who apply to and are accepted to their campuses. Taxpayers 'deserve confidence in the fairness and integrity' of decisions, his memorandum said, adding that more information is needed to ensure colleges are heeding the Supreme Court's decision. A week earlier, the Justice Department issued a memo clarifying what it considers illegal discrimination in admissions. It takes issue not only with overt racial considerations but also 'proxies' for race, including 'geographic targeting' or personal essays asking about obstacles applicants have overcome. Similar language requiring 'merit-based' admissions policies was included in the government's resolutions with Brown and Columbia universities. None of the actions made any mention of legacy admissions. Trump's silence caught the attention of the nonprofit Lawyers for Civil Rights, which has an open complaint with the Education Department alleging that Harvard University's use of donor and alumni preferences amounts to illegal racial discrimination. The group's 2023 complaint says the practice overwhelmingly benefits white students. If the Trump administration wants to make admissions a meritocracy, it should start by ending legacy preferences, said Oren Sellstrom, litigation director for the group. 'These deeply unmeritocratic preferences simply reward students based on who their parents are. It's hard to imagine anything more unfair or contrary to basic merit principles,' he said. Few Americans support legacy or donor preferences Colleges defend the practice by saying it builds community and encourages families to become donors. Some backers say it increasingly helps nonwhite students as campuses become more diverse. Then-President Joe Biden, a Democrat, urged colleges to rethink legacy preferences in the wake of the Supreme Court decision, saying it expanded 'privilege instead of opportunity.' Some feared it would drive up white enrollment as affirmative action ended. Georgetown University reviewed the policy but kept it in place this year after concluding the pool of legacy applicants had a similar makeup to the wider admissions pool. An AP-NORC poll in 2023 found that most Americans have a dim view of legacy and donor preferences, with few saying either should play a strong role in decisions. Universities are required to tell the federal government whether they consider legacy status, but they don't have to divulge how far it tips the scale or how many legacy students they admit. Among the 20 most selective universities that say they employ the practice, none would tell The Associated Press what percentage of their incoming class has a family connection to alumni or donors. Trump's blitz to root out racial preferences has hinged on the argument that it undermines merit. New scrutiny is needed to ensure colleges are following the Supreme Court's order and 'recruiting and training capable future doctors, engineers, scientists' and other workers, he said in his executive action. That argument sends the message that minority students are 'intellectually suspect until proven otherwise,' said Justin Driver, a Yale law professor with a forthcoming book on affirmative action. He worries Trump's latest actions will intimidate colleges into limiting minority enrollment to avoid raising the suspicion of the government. 'I believe that the United States confronts a lot of problems today,' Driver said. 'Too many Black students on first-rate college campuses is not among them.'
San Francisco Chronicle
a few seconds ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Latest: Trump departs for high-stakes meeting with Putin in Alaska
President Donald Trump 's face-to-face high-stakes summit with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday could determine the fate of European security as well as the trajectory of the war in Ukraine. The exclusion of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy already deals a heavy blow to the West's policy of 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.' Washington, D.C.'s police department now potentially in open conflict with federal forces over the terms of Trump's takeover of security in the nation's capital, with the DEA administrator now named 'emergency police chief,' a declaration that city leaders say has no basis in law. The attorney general's declaration came after a dispute over how much help police would provide in arresting immigrants. Macron and Zelenskyy huddled ahead of the Alaska summit The office of President Emmanuel Macron says the French leader and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke Thursday and again Friday before the Trump-Putin summit. The two have agreed to meet each other after the U.S.-Russia summit, when 'it will be most useful and effective.' The brief readout of the exchanges didn't detail any specifics of what Macron and Zelenskyy discussed. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are among the Trump administration officials joining the president for his flight to Alaska. Trump will also be accompanied on Air Force One by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and top White House aides, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Monica Crowley, a former Fox News commentator serving as Trump's chief of protocol, also are making the trip. The Washington police department seeks to assure its citizens With the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department potentially in open conflict with the federal government over the terms of Trump's departmental takeover, the police department is looking to address public concerns. 'What's most important for our community to know is that MPD remains committed to delivering high-quality police service and ensuring the safety of everyone in our city,' a Friday morning statement from an MPD spokesperson. The city appears poised to fight back against the federal takeover, particularly Thursday's attempt by Attorney General Pam Bondi to install DEA chief Terry Cole as 'emergency police commissioner.' D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a declaration that Bondi's order was 'unlawful' and the MPD was under no obligation to comply. Trump: 'HIGH STAKES!!!' Trump made his first public comments on the day as he prepares to meet with Putin. 'HIGH STAKES!!!' he posted on Truth Social as his motorcade idled outside the White House shortly after sunrise in Washington. He left the White House for Joint Base Andrews, the home base for Air Force One, at 7:32 a.m. ET. It's a cool and rainy day in Anchorage An early morning rain storm hit Anchorage, Alaska, just before 3 a.m. on Friday, and the streets leading to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson were sopping wet. The temperature was hovering right about 53° F early Friday morning. Media from all over the world have descended on Anchorage for the top-level summit. There was not much activity outside the base's main gate early Friday morning except for media setting up for the day or sending live images back to the networks. Eyeing Texas, California will hold vote on partisan redistricting Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a Nov. 4 special election as the state moves toward redrawing congressional maps in an attempt to pick up five more Democratic seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. The move is in direct response to a Republican-led effort in Texas pushed by Trump, as his party seeks to maintain its slim House majority after the midterm elections. Judge rules against Trump's efforts to end DEI programs U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland ruled that the Education Department violated the law when it threatened to cut federal funding from educational institutions that continued with diversity initiatives. The case centers on two Education Department memos ordering schools and universities to end all 'race-based decision-making' or face penalties up to a total loss of federal funding.
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
Live updates: Trump meets with Putin in Alaska for high-stakes Ukraine peace talks
The Aug. 15 summit is a test of whether Trump can make progress on a peace deal that is acceptable to both Ukraine and Russia. After months of unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, President Donald Trump faces a pivotal moment as he meets face-to-face with Vladimir Putin to prod the Russian president on a peace deal. Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022 and has been reluctant to halt the bloody conflict, frustrating Trump, who has lashed out and threatened economic penalties. The Aug. 15 summit is a test of whether Trump can make progress on a deal that is acceptable to both Ukraine and Russia. More: What's at stake in Trump's Alaska meeting with Putin The two leaders are meeting at a U.S. military base in Alaska. Not invited: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who spoke with Trump twice this week and has rejected the idea of territorial concessions to end the war. Trump and the White House have been downplaying expectations for the meeting, with the president saying Aug. 14 that the "more important meeting" will be one that includes both Zelenskyy and Putin. That will come next, he said. 'We're going to see what happens," Trump said Aug. 14. "And I think President Putin will make peace. I think President Zelensky will make peace. We'll see if they can get along, and if they can, it'll be great." What time is it in Alaska now? What time does the meeting start? Alaska is currently four hours behind Eastern Standard Time. The meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled to begin around 11 a.m. Alaska Daylight Time, according to the White House, which means it will begin around 3 p.m. ET. -- Gabe Hauari A Trump-Putin reunion Trump and Putin will meet in Anchorage, Alaska, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, home to about 30,000 service members, their families and civilian employees. Alaska was once part of Russia – the U.S. bought it for $7.2 million in 1867 − and is separated by the Bering Strait from the Russian mainland by just 55 miles at the narrowest point. More: Trump-Putin summit spotlights Alaska's strategic importance, vulnerability Trump met with Putin multiple times during his first term, including in Helsinki, Finland, in 2018. Putin denied interfering in the 2016 election, comments that Trump embraced, saying Putin 'was extremely strong and powerful in his denial" despite U.S. intelligence assessments pointing to interference by Moscow on Trump's behalf. -Zac Anderson Trump's relationship with Putin in the spotlight Trump has had a famously warm relationship with Putin over the years, often praising the Russian autocrat. Trump reportedly shared classified intelligence with Russian officials during his first term and tried to soften U.S. opposition to Russia's past aggression against Ukraine and its human rights violations. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Zelenskyy featured in one of the lowest points of Trump's first term. He was impeached over allegations that he pressured Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on political rival Joe Biden. Trump's friendly approach to Putin has largely continued as he worked to get a peace deal and focused his ire on Zelenskyy, most notably during an explosive Oval Office meeting when the two clashed publicly. Trump told the Ukrainian leader he didn't 'have the cards' when it came to resolving the conflict in the country's favor. Lately, though, Trump has repeatedly slammed Putin and complained about his unwillingness to stop the fighting. Putin escalated his attacks on Ukraine ahead of the summit, which former GOP House speaker and Trump ally Newt Gingrich called 'a sign of very bad faith.' Trump said Aug. 13 that there would be 'very severe consequences' if Putin does not agree to end the war. -Zac Anderson Jockeying over territorial concessions Trump is trying to push Moscow into an accord that Kyiv and its allies fear will include the loss of significant territory seized by Russia in its 3-year-old war. Speculating about an eventual deal on Aug. 8, Trump said it would involve 'some swapping of territories." That drew a sharp response from Zelenskyy, who said, 'Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.' But Trump has continued to push, saying on Aug. 11 that he was a 'little bothered' by the Ukrainian leader's assertion that a land swap would violate the country's constitution. "There will be some swapping,' Trump insisted Aug. 11. 'There will be some changes in land.' The debate over territorial concessions hangs over the summit. Putin claims four Ukrainian regions – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which he annexed in 2014. -Zac Anderson, Francesca Chambers, Lauren Villagran
