Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
AG Campbell wants an additional $7 million to battle ‘consistent cruelty’ of Trump admin.
Appearing before state lawmakers, Campbell mentioned the "chaos" happening in Washington, D.C. while advocating for more funding.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell has been incredibly active since President Trump returned to the White House.
Her office has joined with other Democratic attorneys general from around the country to file a string of lawsuits against the Trump administration. Campbell is taking on topics like the push to eliminate birthright citizenship, the mass firings of federal workers, and funding cuts that affect public health research.
But all that work requires Campbell’s office to secure funding of its own. She appeared before state lawmakers last week to ask them to increase funding for her office.
Campbell frequently mentioned the Trump administration and uncertainty surrounding federal funding going forward. While asserting that she did not come into this year “looking for a fight,” Campbell said that she also is “not naive.”
Advertisement:
“The chaos we have seen from the last two months will likely be our new normal,” she said.
Campbell said that her office remains “the best investment in state government.” On a budget of $77.4 million in Fiscal Year 2025, Campbell said her office expects to return more than $900 million to the general fund. Her office has also saved the state an extra $100 million by successfully defending civil claims against the state.
She requested a budget of $82.7 million for Fiscal Year 2026, but Gov. Maura Healey’s budget proposed sending only about $76 million to the Attorney General’s office.
Advertisement:
“We need every single penny that we asked for,” Campbell said.
Specifically, Campbell asked for $6,694,964 to make up the difference. This, she argued, is necessary not just to work with residents and return money to the general fund, but also to “address the consistent cruelty” coming from Washington, D.C.
Campbell criticized Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency initiative, drawing a contrast with her staff and the work they do.
“The richest man in the world is down in Washington, D.C. pretending to know or do something about government efficiency. Let me tell you what government efficiency actually looks like. The staff in my office could make multiples more in the private sector. Instead, they have devoted their talent to public service,” she said.
Despite the frequent references to national politics, Campbell insisted that her office is consistently engaged in work on local issues. She touted the work being done to enforce the MBTA Communities Act, to help workers who were denied compensation or benefits they earned, to fight rideshare companies like Uber so that drivers can earn more, to help student loan borrowers, and to oppose the skyrocketing utility costs currently affecting residents.
Advertisement:
Campbell said she was committed to working “across any political divide” in order to help residents thrive, but that more money is needed.
“Our office cannot do this work if we don’t close that gap,” she said.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com