The first event in the series, “Protecting the Pipeline,” featured a powerful call to action on defending education funding and equity in the face of federal grant cuts.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment.” – Attorney General Rob Bonta
In response to funding cuts to public education and other critical services, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued the Trump administration 22 times since President Trump began his second term.
“The California Department of Justice is here to protect and defend and enforce our state laws, and to protect and represent all of California’s communities,” Bonta said. “We follow our North Star, which is the rule of law, to follow the Constitution, and to see that it is complied with. You can be sure that if Trump breaks the law or violates the Constitution, we will see him in court. He thinks he’s above the law, he’s not. He thinks he can violate the Constitution, he can’t.”
Bonta made his comments in an event launching the new UCLA School of Education and Information Studies public engagement series, “A Call to Conversation.” The first conversation was entitled “Protecting The Pipeline: California’s Legal Response to Federal Grant Terminations Impacting Research, Evaluation and Educator Preparation.” The intent of the series is to engage leaders in education and policy in California and across the nation in discussion of critical issues confronting our schools and communities in these challenging times.
“We intend to inform and inspire collective action and advocacy,” said Annamarie Francois, Associate Dean of Public Engagement at UCLA Ed&IS.
The conversation featured Bonta in discussion with UCLA Ed&IS Wasserman Dean Christina Christie, exploring the legal and educational implications of recent federal actions that threaten research, evaluation, and educator preparation—issues at the heart of educational equity and opportunity at UCLA and beyond.
“I’ve been talking to many Californians up and down the state, to workers, families, teachers, youth advocates, elected representatives, and others,” said Bonta. “And what I’ve heard over and over in these conversations is a tremendous amount of fear, anxiety and confusion, especially as it relates to immigrant rights and the treatment of our immigrant community, as well as attacks on the rule of law, on democracy, and our rights and freedoms.
“This fear, this anxiety, this worry is understandable, and sadly, I think it’s pretty clear it’s part of the president’s strategy. I’m here to provide facts, reason and assurances of California’s nation-leading protections. Now, more than ever, it’s imperative that we make sure that all of us are aware of our rights and protections that I’m here to defend and enforce. I’m committed to fighting with you in this moment, standing with you to make sure our education system remains strong and that the funding that we deserve continues to flow. The California DOJ is here to protect and defend and enforce our state’s laws, our protections, and to represent all of California’s communities, to ensure everyone can achieve their version of the California dream We have to fight.”
Under Bonta’s leadership, the California DOJ has sued the Trump administration over efforts to end Birthright Citizenship; for the mass firing of nearly half the employees at the Department of Education; and the firing of probationary federal employees. It has also fought to halt efforts by the Trump administration to freeze $3 trillion in federal funding that would have threatened more than $168 billion in funding for critical programs in California. Bonta also sued to prevent restrictions on funding from the National Institutes of Health for medical and health research, convincing a judge to immediately block the cuts and granting a preliminary injunction to allow hundreds of millions of dollars in vital education funding to continue to flow to States while the litigation proceeds. In California alone, over $200 million in previously awarded and obligated funding is at stake.
One of the concerns highlighted by Christie was the cancellation by the Trump-led Department of Education of over $600 million in grants aimed at training teachers and education agencies across the U.S., including funding at UCLA for the development of STEM teachers to work in middle schools.
“The administration justified these cuts by labeling the programs as promoting divisive ideologies, including critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as social justice activism,” Christie said. “I’m deeply concerned because I worry that as the research and development infrastructure for educator preparation is yanked out from underneath us, we will not have the capacity as a system to meet the demands for innovation and for studying the effectiveness of our efforts. We also need incentives to entice the most highly desirable candidates into the profession.”
The California Department of Justice sued the Trump administration after it unlawfully terminated these education grants. As of May 14, a judge has granted a temporary restraining order as the case proceeds. Bonta’s office has also issued guidance to higher education institutions and to K-12 schools in response to the Department of Education’s threats to withdraw federal funding from institutions that retain DEI programs and policies.
“This is critical, essential funding for our public schools, for our teacher pipeline, and certainly for underserved students in different areas,” Bonta said. “California alone stands to lose more than 140 million dollars in education grants that are meant to train and prepare qualified teachers, and that get teachers into rural and urban schools and hard-to-fill positions teaching math and science and special education. That funding supports aspiring teachers’ dreams. It increases teacher retention, and it supports our schools and our public school system. These are critical sources of funding that improve the quality of education and create more career opportunities for more Californians, a lot is at stake here. We’re grateful that, at least for now, we’ve gotten some early success.”
Underscoring her concerns over attacks on equity, diversity, and inclusion, Christie asked Bonta to comment on how this case ties into California’s broader equity and workforce development goals.
“We can make no mistake here,” Bonta said. “Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are attacks on our workers. They are attacks on the success of our businesses. They will hurt our economy. And not just the economy, by attacking diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in our schools, Trump is also limiting the education our children receive, limiting their futures, and their full potential. California and other states are fighting to prevent Trump from cutting off billions in education funding that ensures students from lower-income families have access to the same high-quality education as their peers.”
Christie pledged her support, saying, “We are with you,” and asking Bonta, “What can we, as educational leaders in institutions of higher education do to support your office’s work?”
“Right now, in my humble opinion, I respectfully submit that this is an all-hands-on-deck moment,” Bonta replied. “This is all tools in the toolbox, everyone doing everything they can to rise to the occasion and meet the moment to make sure our progress continues, that we’re building more momentum, and we are not sliding back and being pushed back. We need to fight, we need courage, commitment, and collaboration. We want to hear from you. We believe we are at our best when we’re hearing from, working with, and co-creating solutions with those who are on the ground. Please commit to ‘us and we,’ instead of ‘I and me.’ Work together, listen to each other. I think if we stand united in the face of these injustices, we can overcome them.”
Watch the full webinar below via the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies YouTube channel.