Why California, other states are suing over fair housing protections
USA TODAY
California and 14 other states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new guidelines issued to housing agencies nationwide.
California and 14 other states have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration over new guidelines issued to housing agencies nationwide, which the states say have weakened fair housing protections and made it harder to hold landlords accountable for discrimination.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Northern California’s District Court on March 16, argues that the Trump administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development has imposed “new unlawful conditions” that narrow who is protected under the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discriminating against tenants based on their race, nationality, religion, sex, familial status or disability. For decades, states have built upon this federal law to extend protection to other groups of people, like those in the LGBTQ community, veterans, seniors and people using Section 8 housing vouchers.
However, the Trump administration issued a new guideline to local and state housing agencies in September 2025 saying they could be decertified and, in turn, have their funding cut off if the agencies considered protections beyond those listed in the Fair Housing Act, according to the lawsuit.
“HUD, without legal authority, is effectively undermining state laws that offer stronger protections than federal law. … HUD’s guidance is unlawful and would only roll back the progress we’ve made to keep our families safe from discrimination that limits where they can live,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement about the lawsuit.
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