Food4All Coalition Stands Against Safety Net Cuts

Updates from the May Revision

On May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his May Revision of the 2025-26 state budget plan, adding a “trigger-on” to the state’s commitment to the Food4All expansion*, which will expand access to food assistance for Californians ages 55 and older, regardless of immigration status.

*This expansion is also referred to as the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) expansion. 

 

What is a “trigger-on” in the state budget?

A “trigger” is a budget tool used to reduce costs automatically if revenues fail to reach a target. This means that implementation work, including automation, will continue as planned, and in spring 2027, the Department of Finance will assess if there are enough funds for the expansion to take place in October 2027. If there are, then the expansion will be “triggered on” and proceed as planned.

 

Where we’re at

The addition of this trigger is concerning and weakens our state’s commitment to Food4All. Requiring additional funding requirements may result in future delays if revenues aren’t met. Therefore, our work continues, both in the Food4All campaign and in solidarity with our partners fighting for a stronger safety net for all, regardless of immigration status. 

With this language, Food4All is not at immediate risk of being cut  – but other urgent programs that help immigrant Californians are.

Gov. Newsom is walking back his signature healthcare initiative and proposing a freeze in enrollment for undocumented adults in Medi-Cal starting in January. Additionally, he is adding a cost – a $100 per month premium for low-income undocumented Californians to access their care starting in 2026. 

Cuts to Health4All harm the same families who will soon be impacted by the Food4All expansion. This is a dangerous and devastating proposal that would result in hundreds of thousands of Californians being at greater risk of becoming uninsured, suffering from preventable and treatable conditions, and being one emergency away from financial ruin. Everyone deserves access to the resources they need to thrive, regardless of where they were born. Read the Health4All statement on Governor Newsom’s budget proposal here. 

We, the Food4All Coalition, stand with the Health4All movement and recognize that the health of immigrant communities relies on access to food, medical care, and other critical safety net programs.

 

For a Future Where All Californians Can Thrive 

State leaders have the ability and responsibility to protect vulnerable Californians, regardless of where they were born, who are already struggling with accessing basic needs and would be most harmed by federal budget cuts. Our fight continues - we invite you to join the call to raise state revenues and fight against the proposed cuts to our federal safety net in the budget reconciliation process.

 

Three Ways to Take Action  

1. Call your members of Congress to demand their action against proposed cuts to safety net

To ensure that we can “trigger-on” the Food4All expansion in 2027, we must act now to create the right budget conditions. Right now, Congressional committees are voting on a budget reconciliation bill that would enact major cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other urgently needed programs that protect millions of Americans from poverty. Many of these cuts target immigrant communities, and all of them would have lasting negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of Californians. Additionally, these cuts would drastically reduce federal funding that California’s safety net relies on. Protecting these federal budget cuts from going through will prevent future fiscal challenges in California. Read more about the proposed cuts in this fact sheet written by our national partners, the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Coalition. 

Within days, this bill will go to a floor vote. Your member of Congress needs to know that they must vote against these harmful cuts. Here’s how:

 

2. Call the Governor and share opposition to Health4All cuts

Phone number: 916-445-2841

Call Script: “My name is [NAME] and I am with [ORGANIZATION]. We are incredibly disappointed with the Governor’s proposal to walk back on his commitment to Health4All and immigrant health. At a time where immigrant communities are under attack, California must have their back. We strongly oppose cuts to Medi-Cal that would unjustly exclude undocumented Californians.” 

Access the Health4All social media toolkit here. 

 

3. Stay connected on Food4All 

We’ll share more calls to action soon as we call on our leaders to protect their commitment to food access for immigrant communities in our state in the final state budget that will be signed by the governor in June. See our Food4All campaign page for ways to stay engaged.