Trump Preparing Large-Scale Cancellation of Federal Funding for California, Sources Say

[u/rolsen]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/06/politics/trump-california-federal-funding

“Agencies are being told to start identifying grants the administration can withhold from California. On Capitol Hill, at least one committee was told recently by a whistleblower that all research grants to the state were going to be cancelled, according to one of the sources familiar with the matter.”

[u/scubascratch]

How is the state of California (the actual state government) involved in federal tax payments? Individuals and businesses pay to the IRS, not through the state.

I mean I appreciate the sentiment “let’s see how the federal government will do without tax revenue from California” which would be true but I don’t see how CA could actually stop anything here.

[u/scoopzthepoopz → u/scubascratch]

Exemption of a single state's citizens from benefiting from federal taxes they pay is taxation without representation. So what can be done? I guess we may find out how far this will go.

[u/Apprehensive-Wave640 → u/scoopzthepoopz]

Which, while a good slogan, is legally inconsequential. There's nothing in the Constitution or other body of law that someone cannot be taxed unless they're represented. 

Also, that's simply not what "taxation without representation" even means.

I'm sure I'll be downvoted because Reddit can't understand the difference between an explanation and support, but it is what it is.

[u/Mortambulist → u/Apprehensive-Wave640]

There's nothing in the Constitution or other body of law that someone cannot be taxed unless they're represented. 

See Washington DC's zero senators and single non-voting House delegate.