President Donald Trump has referred to as for a brief freeze on sure federal help — sowing confusion and concern amongst California’s state officers and advocacy teams.
As CalMatters’ reporters clarify, a memo from the U.S. Workplace of Administration and Price range directed federal businesses to pause monetary grants and loans that might be “implicated” by any of the president’s prior govt orders.
The directive does not embody Social Safety and Medicare, in addition to “assistance provided directly to individuals,” equivalent to meals stamps, Pell grants and rental help. It doesnonetheless, goal “financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
Regardless of the two-page memo’s sweeping breadth, its few particulars made it unclear which key packages shall be affected and for the way lengthy. The administration later requested federal businesses to ship price range particulars for 3,200 federal spending packagesand details about whether or not the packages assist undocumented immigrants or promote abortion, “gender ideology,” or “diversity, equity and inclusion” efforts.
The administration meant the directive to enter impact Tuesday, however a federal decide quickly blocked the order.
Reactions by California’s elected Democratic officers ranged from cautious to dire. Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned, “We could react to all this or we could have a more constructive wait-and-see.” Whereas California U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman mentioned to CalMatters, “This kind of destabilization is the way authoritarians seize power. … I think it’s dictatorial.”
California is predicted to distribute $168 billion of federal grants and different funding in 2024-25, in keeping with Meeting price range advisor Jason Sisney.
Concentrate on Inland Empire: Every Wednesday, CalMatters Inland Empire reporter Deborah Brennan surveys the massive tales from that a part of California. Learn her publication and enroll right here to obtain it.
How will Trump’s second presidency have an effect on your nook of California? CalMatters is working with public radio companions to collect views throughout the state. Share your ideas right here.
Wildfire publication: CalMatters is teaming up with PBS SoCal, LAist and KCRW to supply a free publication that delivers new and correct details about the Southern California fires. Learn an version and subscribe.
Different Tales You Ought to Know
Paying utility shareholders

The value to attend CA non-public faculty

Amongst California undergraduates, about 160,000 pursue levels at non-public, nonprofit universities. Personal establishments have many advantages, equivalent to smaller class sizes and particular tutorial packages. However for low-income college students, the prices to attend these faculties may be exceptionally excessiveclarify CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn and School Journalism Community reporters.
A CalMatters evaluation discovered that on common, a low-income freshman — outlined as a family earnings beneath $48,000 — paid round $21,000 to attend non-public campuses for one 12 months in 2021-22, the newest 12 months data was out there. As compared, the web value to attend California State College is round $6,000 a 12 months on common, and below $10,000 on the College of California.
There are some exceptions: Stanford, for instance, finally ends up being practically free for freshmen whose household have incomes beneath $100,000. However a part of the rationale why non-public faculties are costly is as a result of aside from state monetary help for his or her college students, they don’t get the state subsidies public universities obtain, which is about $10 billion yearly.
And lastly: Undercover video

After practically a decade, a prison case involving anti-abortion activists and a controversial video of Deliberate Parenthood executives in California has concluded. Discover out what occurred from CalMatters well being reporter Kristen Hwang.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: The Southern California wildfires will flip California’s chronically unbalanced price range from dangerous to worse.
Different issues value your time:
CA regulators deny Trump’s declare that army ‘turned on the water’ within the state // AP Information
Edison denied inflicting 2017 hearthhowever Feds say utility suppressed proof // Los Angeles Instances
Beginning wildfires can be federal crime below CA congressmen’s invoice // The Sacramento Bee
The place are the hazardous supplies from the LA-fires going? // Let
Can the Central Valley’s agriculture trade survive Trump? // Los Angeles Instances
CA farms fail as land values plunge amid groundwater disaster // The Mercury Information
Trump cupboard nominee says she’ll work to kill CA pork regulation // San Francisco Chronicle
Californians in Congress wrestle to counter Trump // Los Angeles Instances
Protesters rally towards El Cajon proposal permitting metropolis police to help ICE // The San Diego Union-Tribune
Bonta took donation from on line casino operator below investigation by his personal workplace // San Francisco Chronicle