The Trump administration’s threat to cancel federal funding for California on a large scale was branded “political extortion” by a California congressmember on Friday.
The statement comes after CNN reported that the Trump administration is preparing to cancel a number of federal funds for California. Agencies are reportedly being tasked to identify which grants the administration can hold back from California.
“This is political extortion — plain and simple,” writes Representative Laura Friedman, who represents California’s 30th Congressional District. “Californians pay $83 billion more in taxes than we receive from the federal government every year. America relies on our tax dollars — and now Trump wants to punish us for it.”
The ongoing threat follows a post on social media made by President Trump on Monday, warning that “large-scale fines will be imposed” against California in response to transgender athlete AB Hernandez competing in the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships in Clovis.
Trump said that he previously “warned” organizers not to let Hernandez compete; now that she won “big,” he will impose “large-scale fines” against California.
AB Hernandez earned a second-place medal and two first-place medals in the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships, which were held at a high school in Clovis on May 30 and May 31.
KTLA’s sister station, YourCentralValley.com, has reached out to the White House for a statement in response.
