The threats of defunding are especially alarming for cities like San Francisco, where services such as Bay Area Rapid Transit are starting at a fiscal cliff. San Francisco and Santa Clara could potentially lose billions of dollars in funding for necessary services, said Chiu and Tony LoPresti, who represents Santa Clara County.

San Francisco and a handful of other US cities are suing the Trump administration over its move to block funding for local governments with “sanctuary” policies as the president cracks down on undocumented immigrants.