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Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic AGs shift their focus to the next phase of their legal battle against Trump
Democratic attorneys general around the country were at the forefront of the legal battles that put up roadblocks to key parts of President Donald Trump's sweeping agenda at the outset of his new administration. Now, even as the initial rapid-fire onslaught of executive actions has slowed, they are vowing to keep up their aggressive — and coordinated — posture in the courts. In a joint interview with NBC News, the Democratic attorneys general, Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts, Rob Bonta of California and Matthew Platkin of New Jersey, laid out their priorities for taking on the Trump administration in the latter half of 2025 and beyond. They said they are specifically looking at bolstering consumer protections, combating what they see as Trump's weaponization of the federal government and stymying the administration's immigration policies. Since Trump's inauguration, Democratic attorneys general have filed 30 lawsuits combined against the administration, focused on issues including immigration and due process, tariffs, federal worker layoffs and the dismantling of federal agencies. California has been a part of 25 of those lawsuits, compared to 21 for New Jersey and 20 for Massachusetts. Campbell, Bonta and Platkin said they will remain vigilant in responding to new Trump policies while maintaining fights on critical areas stemming from the president's first months in office. 'One thing I think we demonstrated in the first 100 days of this administration — and continue to — is that we are organized, we are strategic, and we're unafraid to take on what's coming, whether that be unlawful executive orders or standing up in court to defend our states' interests, residents, economies and institutions,' Campbell said. 'This isn't about policy or political differences,' Platkin noted. 'That's not the basis of a lawsuit.' Rather, he said, 'We will look at whether the president's violating the law and hurting the residents of our state.' A Trump administration spokesperson didn't respond to questions for this article. One of the most prominent concerns held by these Democratic attorneys general is what they say is Trump's weaponization of the government. The Department of Government Efficiency has, for example, attempted to obtain access to sensitive Internal Revenue Service data that could jeopardize the personal information — including the home addresses and Social Security numbers — of federal workers and others. The data could also be used to target specific people with political retribution, and to push false narratives about undocumented immigrants and voter fraud allegations, critics have warned. 'We're working closely to support some of these entities through existing lawsuits, whether directly filed by us or amicus briefs,' Campbell said. She was among 19 attorneys general who sued DOGE in February 'to protect the sensitive information of our constituents, including their IRS data, and ensure that these agencies were not weaponized against our people or against our residents or immigrants or weaponized against our nonprofit organizations or academic institutions,' she said. Meanwhile, referring to efforts by Republicans and the Trump White House to target certain nonprofits by stripping them of their tax-exempt status, Bonta said it was 'shocking and remarkable' that the administration might be able to go after such groups 'they don't agree with based on their viewpoint.' He said such efforts ran the risk of violating those groups' First Amendment rights, stating: 'We will be watching closely what the IRS does — and honestly, any other weaponization.' Democratic attorneys general have been especially active in fighting Trump's efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. And while much of those initial efforts centered around litigation, Campbell said her office was going to double down on efforts to provide legal guidance to immigrant communities in her state so they better know how to avoid or handle such situations. 'The guidance and the work that we're doing to ensure folks know what their rights are is just as important as the litigation that we are filing against the federal administration,' Campbell said. 'That guidance will continue — and must. It will not slow down.' Campbell said that, just last week, her office had released guidance to people who might be targeted in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids related to 'know what their rights are, when it comes to ICE and ICE enforcement and ICE showing up in their community.' Group members said they'd also be active on the issue of consumer protections after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the federal agency that had handled discipline of such abuses — was gutted by the Trump administration. Campbell, as well Bonta and Platkin, said they'd continue to fight Trump's attempted elimination of the agency, while also trying to do some of the work the bureau had overseen. 'Because we now do not have a partner at the federal level looking to advance consumer protection, more of these cases now fall on us,' Campbell said. Platkin, for his part, said he was concerned about how many of the Trump administration's policies — especially ones related to withholding certain funding for states and related to guns — had put public safety at risk. He mentioned cost-cutting measures across Trump's Justice Department that resulted in the decimation of law enforcement and public safety grants. In New Jersey, Platkin said that has resulted in 'taking cops off the streets,' as well as the elimination of millions of dollars in funding for items like license plate reader technology, which he said has helped law enforcement officials in the state 'to catch violent criminals and human traffickers and drug traffickers.' Platkin also expressed concern about a settlement Trump's Justice Department reached last month that would allow the sale of devices that enable standard firearms to fire like machine guns. Platkin was involved in the litigation to fight sales of the devices — called forced reset triggers — and was now reviewing affirmative lawsuits on the matter. 'As the chief law enforcement officer of my state, one thing that has given me real concern is the risk to public safety that this administration's policies have created,' he said. While Democratic attorneys general have aggressively fought Trump's tariffs, Bonta said the battle was far from over. In addition to continuing the legal fight, he said he was going to closely watch to see whether corporations in his state might exploit the economic uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariffs to unnecessarily raise prices. 'With respect to the tariffs — and corporations using that opportunity to harm consumers, to take advantage of them, potentially manipulate pricing — this is the bread and butter of what we do,' Bonta said. 'We do it in non-Trump times. We do it in Trump times. We protect consumers against price gouging and junk fees and price fixing and anti competitive behavior.' 'It's just what we do, and we will continue to do that,' he added. Bonta warned that companies might see a unique opportunity 'to jack up their prices and harm consumers' and that he and his colleagues would remain 'vigilant in our ongoing efforts to protect consumers, whether it be due to a tariff excuse or some other type of cover, to harm consumers.' Bonta, Campbell and Platkin also said they would remain flexible to deal with whatever the next phase of the Trump presidency brings. 'When posed with the question, you know, 'What do we do next,' really, the answer is: It depends on what the Trump administration does,' Bonta said. 'We're monitoring all the things that he's doing,' he added. 'And when he crosses the threshold of taking an action that is unlawful and harming our states — meaning, we have standing to sue — then we sue — whatever it is." This article was originally published on
NBC News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Democratic AGs shift their focus to the next phase of their legal battle against Trump
Democratic attorneys general around the country were at the forefront of the legal battles that put up roadblocks to key parts of President Donald Trump's sweeping agenda at the outset of his new administration. Now, even as the initial rapid-fire onslaught of executive actions has slowed, they are vowing to keep up their aggressive — and coordinated — posture in the courts. In a joint interview with NBC News, the Democratic attorneys general, Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts, Rob Bonta of California and Matthew Platkin of New Jersey, laid out their priorities for taking on the Trump administration in the latter half of 2025 and beyond. They said they are specifically looking at bolstering consumer protections, combating what they see as Trump's weaponization of the federal government and stymying the administration's immigration policies. Since Trump's inauguration, Democratic attorneys general have filed 30 lawsuits combined against the administration, focused on issues including immigration and due process, tariffs, federal worker layoffs and the dismantling of federal agencies. California has been a part of 25 of those lawsuits, compared to 21 for New Jersey and 20 for Massachusetts. Campbell, Bonta and Platkin said they will remain vigilant in responding to new Trump policies while maintaining fights on critical areas stemming from the president's first months in office. 'One thing I think we demonstrated in the first 100 days of this administration — and continue to — is that we are organized, we are strategic, and we're unafraid to take on what's coming, whether that be unlawful executive orders or standing up in court to defend our states' interests, residents, economies and institutions,' Campbell said. 'This isn't about policy or political differences,' Platkin noted. 'That's not the basis of a lawsuit.' Rather, he said, 'We will look at whether the president's violating the law and hurting the residents of our state.' A Trump administration spokesperson didn't respond to questions for this article. 'Weaponization' of government agencies One of the most prominent concerns held by these Democratic attorneys general is what they say is Trump's weaponization of the government. The Department of Government Efficiency has, for example, attempted to obtain access to sensitive Internal Revenue Service data that could jeopardize the personal information — including the home addresses and Social Security numbers — of federal workers and others. The data could also be used to target specific people with political retribution, and to push false narratives about undocumented immigrants and voter fraud allegations, critics have warned. 'We're working closely to support some of these entities through existing lawsuits, whether directly filed by us or amicus briefs,' Campbell said. She was among 19 attorneys general who sued DOGE in February 'to protect the sensitive information of our constituents, including their IRS data, and ensure that these agencies were not weaponized against our people or against our residents or immigrants or weaponized against our nonprofit organizations or academic institutions,' she said. Meanwhile, referring to efforts by Republicans and the Trump White House to target certain nonprofits by stripping them of their tax-exempt status, Bonta said it was 'shocking and remarkable' that the administration might be able to go after such groups 'they don't agree with based on their viewpoint.' He said such efforts ran the risk of violating those groups' First Amendment rights, stating: 'We will be watching closely what the IRS does — and honestly, any other weaponization.' Immigration and due process Democratic attorneys general have been especially active in fighting Trump's efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. And while much of those initial efforts centered around litigation, Campbell said her office was going to double down on efforts to provide legal guidance to immigrant communities in her state so they better know how to avoid or handle such situations. 'The guidance and the work that we're doing to ensure folks know what their rights are is just as important as the litigation that we are filing against the federal administration,' Campbell said. 'That guidance will continue — and must. It will not slow down.' Campbell said that, just last week, her office had released guidance to people who might be targeted in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids related to 'know what their rights are, when it comes to ICE and ICE enforcement and ICE showing up in their community.' Consumer protections Group members said they'd also be active on the issue of consumer protections after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the federal agency that had handled discipline of such abuses — was gutted by the Trump administration. Campbell, as well Bonta and Platkin, said they'd continue to fight Trump's attempted elimination of the agency, while also trying to do some of the work the bureau had overseen. 'Because we now do not have a partner at the federal level looking to advance consumer protection, more of these cases now fall on us,' Campbell said. Law enforcement Platkin, for his part, said he was concerned about how many of the Trump administration's policies — especially ones related to withholding certain funding for states and related to guns — had put public safety at risk. He mentioned cost-cutting measures across Trump's Justice Department that resulted in the decimation of law enforcement and public safety grants. In New Jersey, Platkin said that has resulted in 'taking cops off the streets,' as well as the elimination of millions of dollars in funding for items like license plate reader technology, which he said has helped law enforcement officials in the state 'to catch violent criminals and human traffickers and drug traffickers.' Platkin also expressed concern about a settlement Trump's Justice Department reached last month that would allow the sale of devices that enable standard firearms to fire like machine guns. Platkin was involved in the litigation to fight sales of the devices — called forced reset triggers — and was now reviewing affirmative lawsuits on the matter. 'As the chief law enforcement officer of my state, one thing that has given me real concern is the risk to public safety that this administration's policies have created,' he said. Tariffs While Democratic attorneys general have aggressively fought Trump's tariffs, Bonta said the battle was far from over. In addition to continuing the legal fight, he said he was going to closely watch to see whether corporations in his state might exploit the economic uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariffs to unnecessarily raise prices. 'With respect to the tariffs — and corporations using that opportunity to harm consumers, to take advantage of them, potentially manipulate pricing — this is the bread and butter of what we do,' Bonta said. 'We do it in non-Trump times. We do it in Trump times. We protect consumers against price gouging and junk fees and price fixing and anti competitive behavior.' 'It's just what we do, and we will continue to do that,' he added. Bonta warned that companies might see a unique opportunity 'to jack up their prices and harm consumers' and that he and his colleagues would remain 'vigilant in our ongoing efforts to protect consumers, whether it be due to a tariff excuse or some other type of cover, to harm consumers.' Bonta, Campbell and Platkin also said they would remain flexible to deal with whatever the next phase of the Trump presidency brings. 'When posed with the question, you know, 'What do we do next,' really, the answer is: It depends on what the Trump administration does,' Bonta said. 'We're monitoring all the things that he's doing,' he added. 'And when he crosses the threshold of taking an action that is unlawful and harming our states — meaning, we have standing to sue — then we sue — whatever it is."
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to lift judge's order blocking federal overhaul
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to lift judge's order blocking federal overhaul Show Caption Hide Caption Why some federal workers took the buyout offered by Trump "I honestly expected myself to retire with the federal workforce.' Until recently, 27-year-old Jourdain Solis was employed with the Internal Revenue Service. When he heard the program he worked for would be eliminated, he decided to bow out. WASHINGTON −The Trump administration on June 2 asked the Supreme Court to let it carry out large-scale staffing cuts and agency restructuring while the president's authority to make such sweeping changes without Congress is being challenged. In an emergency filing, the Justice Department said the court should lift a federal judge's order pausing the termination of tens of thousands of federal jobs and shuttering many government offices and programs. DOJ said the judge's order is based on the 'indefensible premise' that President Donald Trump needs Congress' permission to make decisions about staffing the executive branch. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco has ruled the unions, nonprofits and municipalities that are challenging the administration's efforts to downsize and reshape the federal government are likely to be successful. "After dramatic staff reductions, these agencies will not be able to do what Congress has directed them to do," she wrote in her order halting mass layoffs and reorganizations for 22 federal agencies. A three-judge panel on the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 on May 30 against the administration's request to block Ilston's order. "The executive order at issue here far exceeds the president's supervisory powers under the Constitution," wrote Judge William Fletcher in an opinion joined by Judge Lucy Koh. Bother were appointed by Democratic presidents. Judge Consuelo Callahan, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, dissented, saying the administration is likely to ultimately win the court fight and is harmed by not being able to carry out its policies in the meantime. The restructuring is central to the push by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the federal government and drastically cut spending. Trump has urged agencies to eliminate duplicative roles, unnecessary management layers, and non-critical jobs while automating routine tasks, closing regional offices and reducing the use of outside contractors. Those challenging the changes say they will gut disaster relief programs, public health services, food safety inspections, and contagious disease prevention. The Supreme Court asked the challengers to respond to Trump's request by June 9.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
IRS Tax Refund Timeline: June 2025 Schedule
Millions of Americans are anticipating their 2025 federal tax refunds, and throughout June the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be reviewing and handing out payments via direct deposits and mailed checks. Despite budget constraints and potential processing delays, most taxpayers who filed in May should receive their refunds in June-particularly if they filed electronically and opted for direct deposit. The IRS began processing refunds after the April tax deadline. With an average refund hovering around $2,950, this annual injection of funds can be significant for many households. However, the actual arrival date of a refund depends heavily on how and when the return was submitted. The IRS has laid out specific refund timelines depending on the filing date and method. Taxpayers who submitted returns electronically with the option of direct deposit between May 1 and May 15 can expect their refunds to arrive from May 22 up to June 4. If those returns were filed electronically but opted for a mailed check, refunds were expected to arrive between May 29 and June 11. For paper filers in this window, refunds may arrive as late as July 10. Those who filed between May 16 and May 31 can anticipate their refunds between June 6 and June 19 for direct deposits, June 13 and June 26 for mailed checks, and July 11 to July 25 for paper filings. The IRS encourages all taxpayers to use its Where's My Refund? online portal to track their payment status. This tool provides updates on whether a return has been received, approved, or sent. The average refund amount for 2025 is approximately $2,939. That figure is slightly higher than last year's average amount of $2,869, though individual refunds vary based on earnings, withholding, tax credits, and deductions. Those eligible for refunds are generally taxpayers who overpaid their 2024 tax liabilities. It represents the excess amount withheld or paid during the year compared to what was owed. However, errors in tax filings, missing documents, or incomplete forms can delay processing. The IRS's reduced staffing and budget are also contributing to longer wait times-especially for paper returns, which require manual review. The IRS recommends that taxpayers ensure all documents are complete, accurate, and that direct deposit information is correct to minimize delays. The filing method continues to be a major factor in refund speed. E-filing with direct deposit is the fastest method and is typically processed within 21 days, barring issues. Meanwhile, paper filers must account for potential delays of several additional weeks, particularly if their return requires manual correction or verification. Taxpayers with questions about their refund status or experiencing a delay beyond the standard processing window are advised to use the IRS's online tracking tool or contact the IRS directly if the refund has not arrived after 21 days from e-filing, or six weeks from mailing a paper return. As a reminder, the IRS began accepting individual returns in January, and the deadline for most taxpayers was April 15, 2025. Those who filed for an extension have until October 15, 2025, to submit their returns, though payment was still due by the April deadline. With these expectations in place, many Americans should see their 2025 refunds arrive before the end of June, provided all submission details were in order. Related Articles IRS Issues Tax Deadline Reminder To MillionsTrump Admin Gets a Win as Judge Allows IRS to Share Tax Data With ICEHunter Biden Drops Lawsuit Against IRS Employees: 'Afraid to Fight'IRS Issues Advice As Natural Disaster Season Approaches 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
IRS Tax Refund Timeline: June 2025 Schedule
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of Americans are anticipating their 2025 federal tax refunds, and throughout June the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be reviewing and handing out payments via direct deposits and mailed checks. Why It Matters Despite budget constraints and potential processing delays, most taxpayers who filed in May should receive their refunds in June—particularly if they filed electronically and opted for direct deposit. The IRS began processing refunds after the April tax deadline. With an average refund hovering around $2,950, this annual injection of funds can be significant for many households. However, the actual arrival date of a refund depends heavily on how and when the return was submitted. When Will Tax Refunds Arrive? The IRS has laid out specific refund timelines depending on the filing date and method. Taxpayers who submitted returns electronically with the option of direct deposit between May 1 and May 15 can expect their refunds to arrive from May 22 up to June 4. If those returns were filed electronically but opted for a mailed check, refunds were expected to arrive between May 29 and June 11. For paper filers in this window, refunds may arrive as late as July 10. Those who filed between May 16 and May 31 can anticipate their refunds between June 6 and June 19 for direct deposits, June 13 and June 26 for mailed checks, and July 11 to July 25 for paper filings. The IRS encourages all taxpayers to use its Where's My Refund? online portal to track their payment status. This tool provides updates on whether a return has been received, approved, or sent. File photo of the Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington D.C. File photo of the Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington D.C. J. David Ake/AP How Much is the Average Refund? The average refund amount for 2025 is approximately $2,939. That figure is slightly higher than last year's average amount of $2,869, though individual refunds vary based on earnings, withholding, tax credits, and deductions. Those eligible for refunds are generally taxpayers who overpaid their 2024 tax liabilities. It represents the excess amount withheld or paid during the year compared to what was owed. However, errors in tax filings, missing documents, or incomplete forms can delay processing. The IRS's reduced staffing and budget are also contributing to longer wait times—especially for paper returns, which require manual review. The IRS recommends that taxpayers ensure all documents are complete, accurate, and that direct deposit information is correct to minimize delays. Tracking and Delays The filing method continues to be a major factor in refund speed. E-filing with direct deposit is the fastest method and is typically processed within 21 days, barring issues. Meanwhile, paper filers must account for potential delays of several additional weeks, particularly if their return requires manual correction or verification. Taxpayers with questions about their refund status or experiencing a delay beyond the standard processing window are advised to use the IRS's online tracking tool or contact the IRS directly if the refund has not arrived after 21 days from e-filing, or six weeks from mailing a paper return. As a reminder, the IRS began accepting individual returns in January, and the deadline for most taxpayers was April 15, 2025. Those who filed for an extension have until October 15, 2025, to submit their returns, though payment was still due by the April deadline. With these expectations in place, many Americans should see their 2025 refunds arrive before the end of June, provided all submission details were in order.
