Tue Jul 01 17:00:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Newsom Slams Federal Republican Bill, Warns of Devastating Impact on California Healthcare and Food Assistance**
**SACRAMENTO** – Governor Gavin Newsom today fiercely criticized a proposed federal Republican bill, dubbed the “Big, Beautiful bill,” warning it would have dire consequences for millions of Californians, slashing billions in crucial funding for Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in the state.
Newsom stated that the bill could eliminate health coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians and cut at least $28.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding. The proposed changes would also jeopardize food assistance for hundreds of thousands of Californians who rely on SNAP.
“The so-called ‘Big, Beautiful bill’ is not cost-saving. It is not smart. It is cruel, costly, and a significant encroachment on states’ rights,” Newsom stated. “Big government is getting bigger under Trump and Speaker Johnson, as they attempt to dictate every move states make and micromanage Americans through even greater bureaucracy.”
The Governor highlighted several key concerns:
* **Medicaid Cuts:** Changes to Medicaid and federal health care tax rules could cost California over $28 billion in federal funding, potentially leading to the loss of coverage for millions. Starting in 2027, states would be required to conduct eligibility determinations every six months instead of every twelve months, leading to an estimated loss of $2.4 Billion in federal funds and approximately 400,000 enrollees in California.
* **Work Requirements:** Implementation of work requirements starting in 2027 could result in an estimated loss of up to $22.3 billion in federal funds and up to 3 million California enrollees.
* **SNAP Cuts:** The bill could cut federal SNAP funding in California by $2.8 to $5.4 billion annually, potentially affecting at least 735,000 recipients. These changes include a reduction of at least $1.25 billion in federal funds due to changes in eligibility rules and the loss of an additional at least $178 million in nutrition education grants.
California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson and California Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Baass spoke at a press conference detailing the potential impacts of the bill.
Planned Parenthood has also warned that the bill could put nearly 200 of their health centers at risk of closing, blocking 1.1 million patients from essential care and decimating abortion care access.
Newsom concluded by stating that the bill would lead to hospital and clinic closures, increase uncompensated care costs, and reverse California’s progress in reducing its uninsured rate. He vowed to fight the bill and protect access to healthcare and food assistance for all Californians.
First Piper 