Gavin Newsom's Effort to "Trump Proof" Californian Policies

Governor Gavin Newsom has been in Washington since Monday of this week to discuss plans with the Biden administration in relation to climate change—but most importantly, to discuss how to protect California’s policies ahead of Trump’s inevitable return to office in January. Newsom’s stance against Trump isn’t actually about opposing federal policies: rather it’s an attempt to ensure that California, with its diverse population and liberal agenda, continues to move forward in the right direction.

One of the more prominent areas that Newsom has been focusing his ‘trump proofing’ on is California's current climate change and environmental protections. Back in 2017 when Trump was first elected as president, his administration made numerous efforts to dismantle the environmental protections that the nation already had in place, which infamously included withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. This rolled back fuel efficiency standards and weakened the EPA’s role in protecting air and water quality. Newsom has since doubled down on California’s commitment to environment protection, increasing investments in clean energy, electric vehicles, and renewable energy sources. He, for example, signed legislation that would ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. California also has its own regulatory power over air quality through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) which has allowed the state to maintain strict control over emission standards even during Trump’s previous presidency.

Another critical area that Newsom has been continuously focusing his ‘trump proofing’ on has been California’s policies in relation to healthcare. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), one of the signature accomplishments of the Obama administration that was established, was majorly targeted by Trump who repeatedly tried to repeal the law, managing to only reduce funding for the ACA during his presidency. Newsom, however, has always been a staunch defender of the ACA which has worked to further expand access to healthcare in California. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, was able to even extend to undocumented adults, making it the first state in the nation to do so. Furthermore, California has continued to operate its own health insurance, Covered California, which provides access to subsidized health plans even as Trump sought to undermine the ACA. Newsom has also fought against efforts to gut protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions and sought ways to reduce prescription drug prices, pushing California to become a single-paying healthcare system.

Immigration was also a majorly targeted policy during Trump’s presidency with the former president pushing for stricter enforcement, the infamous wall to be built between Mexico and America’s border, and wanting to end DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). In response, Newsom has offered California as a sanctuary state, offering protection to undocumented immigrants and resisting the immigration crackdowns that the Trump administration worked to heavily enforce. Back in 2017, California passed Senate Bill 54 which also became known as the “California Values Act”; this bill limited local law enforcement's cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This ensured that undocumented immigrants in California were less likely to face deportation and had access to basic services such as healthcare and education without fear of federal enforcement. Newsom also expanded access to state-funded legal services for immigrants facing deportation and pledged to resist federal efforts to deport undocumented residents. In 2020, an executive order by Newsom created the “California Immigrant Resilience Fund” which provided financial assistance to undocumented workers impacted by the pandemic.

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, the reproductive rights of millions of women across the nation were threatened. While many states moved to immediately restrict abortion access, California moved to strengthen protections for reproductive rights instead with Newsom swiftly signing in laws to protect access to abortion and expand reproductive health services within the state. California became a sanctuary for those seeking abortions with Newsom vowing to ensure that the state’s healthcare providers would continue to offer these services without interference from federal authorities. This also included providing resources for out-of-state residents seeking abortions and expanding access to contraceptives. Newsom’s administration also advanced measures to protect gender equality such as mandating equal pay for equal work, expanding rights for transgender individuals, and supporting laws against gender-based violence.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Newsom’s approach to ‘trump proofing’ California’s policies has been his focus on bolstering state control. Newsom has repeatedly argued that states have the right to enact their own policies, particularly on issues like education, the environment, and healthcare, which he has continuously worked to protect California from potential federal interference. For instance, Newsom has used California’s initiative process to advance policies that are not reliant on federal cooperation or funding; this includes increasing funding for affordable housing, expanding renewable energy, and securing funding for mental health services. Newsom has also supported California’s ability to sue the federal government when it believes federal policies may be harming the state’s interests. For example, the state has filed multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration during the president's previous presidency over environmental rollbacks and attempts to eliminate protections for vulnerable communities.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s efforts to ‘trump proof’ California’s policies aren’t at all an attempt made by him to overthrow the federal government but rather an attempt to protect the rights of the residents of California. Whether that be through environmental protections, healthcare expansion, sanctuary policies, or reproductive rights, Newsom is making it very clear that California simply will not follow the federal mandates but rather chart its course, even if it means taking bold actions to defend the state’s values. As Newsom continues to ‘trump proof’ Californian policies, a question arises: will other states follow California’s example? Only time will tell, but Newsom’s approach has already set a precedent for future governors looking to safeguard their state’s residents against future potentially unfair federal policies that may be enforced onto states.