California Cities Sue DOJ Over Threatened Child Crime Funds

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San Diego and San Jose have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, alleging that the DOJ is threatening to cut grant funds used by local law enforcement to investigate internet crimes against children. The cities claim the DOJ is imposing unconstitutional conditions on the money, including requiring them to uphold a legally ambiguous view of antidiscrimination law and use the funds in a way that advances the administration's immigration policies.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights the tension between local law enforcement's efforts to combat online child exploitation and the federal government's attempts to impose its policy priorities on grant funding. The outcome could impact how cities across the country are able to utilize federal resources to protect vulnerable children from internet-based crimes.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the DOJ is threatening to withhold grant funds that San Diego and San Jose use to investigate internet crimes against children. The cities claim the DOJ is requiring them to agree to conditions that force them to take actions related to immigration enforcement and adopt the administration's interpretation of antidiscrimination laws, which the cities say is legally ambiguous.

• The lawsuit was filed on Friday, January 31, 2026.

What’s next

The lawsuit will proceed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California as the cities seek to block the DOJ from imposing the contested grant conditions.