On Wednesday, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for “overstepping its authority’ as well as “harming the economy” connected to the administration’s sweeping tariffs on all foreign goods. The lawsuit aims to block Trump’s tariffs on all of its foreign trade partners. Trump announced a 10% tariff on all goods from foreign countries and higher tariffs on China and other countries, he claimed, were making it difficult for US products to enter the marketplace.
Trump Has Temporarily Paused Tariffs
Trump has paused most of the tariffs for a 90-day period. Trump imposed a 145% tariff on all goods coming from China. China responded by imposing a 125% tariff on any goods from the United States.
The new lawsuit argues that Trump does not have the constitutional power to impose the tariffs. It also claims that the law that Trump has used to justify his tariffs, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), only gives him the power to apply broad taxes if he has “proper justification.”
California: Tariffs Hurt Economy
The new lawsuit states that Trump’s tariffs have caused serious harm to California’s economy. And maximized the threat of recession. California has the world’s fifth-largest economy, and it is also the top state for importing goods. The lawsuit argues that the tariffs will seriously impact the state’s 12 ports, which are responsible for 40% of all U.S. imports.
Second Lawsuit Filed
On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a second lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The state of California is preparing to sue the Trump administration over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts to AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps reached out to its volunteers on Tuesday, telling them that they would have to exit the program early “due to programmatic circumstances beyond your control.”
“We’ve gone from the New Deal, the New Frontier, and the Great Society to a federal government that gives the middle finger to volunteers serving their fellow Americans. We will sue to stop this,” Newsom wrote in a statement.
More Than 2,000 Volunteers Affected
More than 2,000 people between the ages of 18 and 26 were employed by AmeriCorps NCCC for a 10-month service term. The members were working on several different projects related to education, housing, land development, urban and rural development, and disaster relief. Employees would sometimes drive for hours across the country to assignments.
AmeriCorps paid volunteers for their basic expenses, such as housing, limited health benefits, meals, as well as a “modest living allowance.” When a volunteer completed the required 1,700 hours, they received funding for their future education expenses, or the amount could be applied to existing student loans. In the end, the 10 months of service paid around $7,300.
Newsom also stated that California would be speeding up the California Service Corps program recruitment.“Corps members help communities by taking climate action, tutoring, and mentoring students to help them. Newsom also stated that California would be speeding up the California Service Corps program recruitment. ucceed, supporting regions impacted by disasters, working to end hunger and connecting vulnerable people to vital resources and services,” the program’s website reads.
