California Capitol Annex Project

November 10, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom

Office of the Governor 1021 O St.,

9th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

As members of the California State Assembly, we are deeply concerned by the continuing lack of transparency surrounding the California Capitol Annex project, including reports that key records and cost information remain withheld from the public. Californians deserve full accountability for how more than a billion dollars of their money is being spent.

The California Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee is responsible for overseeing this project, which is now estimated to cost over $1.1 billion, more than double the original 2018 estimate of $543.2 million. Despite repeated requests, the public has received little information about the project’s expenditures, scope, and timeline. More than three years have passed since the Joint Rules Committee provided any public update, raising serious questions about oversight and fiscal responsibility.

Because your administration oversees both the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Finance, we believe you have the authority and obligation to ensure transparency. In light of your recent comments acknowledging the Legislature’s secrecy as “inappropriate,” we respectfully request that you:

1. Direct the Department of General Services (DGS) to provide a detailed briefing to the Legislature on the status of the Capitol Annex project, including current budget estimates, areas of cost overruns, and estimated completion timelines.
2. Direct DGS and the Department of Finance to provide an estimate of the total cost of the Capitol Annex project over the life of the bonds, including principal, interest, and financing costs, to reflect the total taxpayer obligation.
3. Direct DGS to release all documents in its possession related to the project, including contracts, cost analyses, and correspondence.
4. Direct the Department of Finance to provide all Budget Change Proposals, whether approved or not, submitted over the last four years related to the Capitol Annex project, along with any internal documents or correspondence between the Governor’s Office, the Department of Finance, and/or DGS concerning the project.
5. Formally request that the State Controller provide copies of all submitted invoices and payments related to the Capitol Annex project.
6. Make a formal request to the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate President pro Tempore to direct their respective Rules Committees to release all project-related documents.
7. Release all documents, correspondence, meeting notes, recommendations, or other materials from the three-member executive committee established to oversee the Capitol Annex project.

Transparency is essential to maintain public trust and ensure taxpayers are fully informed about how their money is being spent. DGS and the Department of Finance already possess this information and can release it immediately without further authorization.

Taxpayers deserve a full accounting of this project. We urge you to act without delay to provide the requested information and restore confidence in this process.

Sincerely,