1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Trump’s administration is actively testing the limits of executive power, and there is a real risk that he may ignore Supreme Court rulings in an effort to consolidate control. If this happens, the legal foundation of our democracy will be at stake, and California must be prepared to resist federal overreach at the state level. The State Legislature has a responsibility to act preemptively rather than waiting for a constitutional crisis to unfold. California must pass legislation reinforcing state sovereignty and blocking unconstitutional federal actions before they are attempted. A key priority must be protecting the California National Guard from federalization. Trump could attempt to take control of Guard units and use them to enforce his policies, even against state directives. Legislation should be introduced to prohibit the National Guard from being deployed for unconstitutional federal orders without explicit state authorization. Additionally, funding and expanding the California State Guard should be a legislative priority. Unlike the National Guard, this state defense force cannot be federalized and can serve as a last line of defense if federal agencies attempt to override California’s laws and governance. State law enforcement must be legally empowered to resist federal overreach. California should pass laws restricting federal agencies—such as DHS, ICE, or the FBI—from acting without direct coordination with state authorities. Law enforcement officers should not be placed in a position where they are expected to enforce unconstitutional federal mandates. The Legislature should also take steps to preemptively nullify any unconstitutional federal directives that violate state sovereignty. If Trump moves to bypass Congress and the courts, California must have legal protections in place that prevent enforcement of unlawful executive actions within the state. Finally, California should lead a coalition of states in resisting federal overreach. If multiple states—such as New York, Illinois, and Washington—coordinate legal and enforcement strategies, it will be far more difficult for Trump to impose unchecked authority. Interstate legislative coordination should begin now. This is not a hypothetical scenario; the country is approaching a moment where the integrity of our government will be tested. The California Legislature must take bold, proactive action to ensure our state remains a stronghold for democracy, constitutional law, and civil rights.