A new federal law is set to slash funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion over the next ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. This is one of the biggest changes to the country’s food assistance program in recent memory and could have serious impacts, especially in California.
In California, SNAP is known as CalFresh, and it plays a vital role in helping around five million people between 2023 and 2024. But these upcoming cuts threaten to shake the foundation of support that so many families depend on.
Latino Communities Face the Greatest Impact
A recent study from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) shows that California’s Latino community, who make up the majority of CalFresh recipients, is likely to feel the biggest impact from these cuts. The study points out that Latinos face higher rates of food insecurity.
In 2023, nearly 45 percent of adults in California said they didn’t have enough to eat, and Latinos were hit particularly hard. LPPI reports that 55 percent of those receiving CalFresh benefits are from the Latino community.
Rising Food Insecurity Amid Policy Changes
Advocates are raising alarms that cutting SNAP funding, along with tougher work rules and making states pay more of the costs, could seriously hurt the health, nutrition, and financial security of millions of people. This is especially worrying for farmworker communities and immigrant families, where food insecurity is already a big challenge.
Arturo Vargas Bustamante, director of LPPI, explains, “Reducing food assistance means forcing families to make impossible choices between meals, rent, and health care.”
How the New Law Changes SNAP Funding
The changes come as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a key part of former President Donald Trump’s budget plan. It includes major shifts in how SNAP is funded, requiring states to help cover benefit costs if their payment errors go over 6 percent. For states like California with big SNAP programs, this means they’ll be under more financial strain than before.
Because so many people in California rely on CalFresh, the state could feel the impact more than others. Researchers at LPPI warn that these new rules could cause real damage to communities throughout California.
Food Insecurity Hits Latino Families and Agricultural Workers Hardest
LPPI’s research shows that nearly half of low-income Latino adults in California face food insecurity. That’s significantly higher than the 38 % of white Californians and 37% of Asian or Pacific Islander Californians dealing with the same issue.
Latinos also make up a big portion of CalFresh users in working-age groups, with 69 % actively in the workforce, and among children receiving benefits, 40 % compared to the state average of 33 percent. This shows just how many working families and kids depend on the program.
CalFresh participation is especially strong in farming areas like Imperial County and across the Central Valley, where food insecurity hits hardest. In some places, Latinos make up as much as 90 percent of those enrolled.
If SNAP benefits are cut, it could hit these communities hard threatening the food security of people who are essential to California’s agriculture and food supply.
Broader Impacts and State Responses
Across California, CalFresh handed out about $12 billion in benefits to five million people between 2023 and 2024, with the average recipient receiving roughly $189 a month. On top of that, over three million Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, and many people rely on both programs.
Experts point out that in other parts of the country, different groups could be hit hardest by these SNAP changes. For instance, in states like Alabama or Mississippi, it might be low-income white communities feeling the biggest impact, especially with tougher work rules and more frequent eligibility checks causing some to lose benefits.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Californians
The changes to SNAP will take place gradually over the next few years, but their impact is expected to be serious. Less food assistance could lead to more health issues, push more people into poverty, and increase homelessness, especially for those already struggling.