by A sweeping overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), signed into law last week as part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is expected to slash $186 billion from the program over the next decade.
In California—where SNAP operates as CalFresh—the cuts could severely impact the state’s Latino population, which makes up the majority of CalFresh recipients and already faces high rates of food insecurity.
Key Highlights:
- The Congressional Budget Office estimates a $186 billion reduction in SNAP funding over 10 years.
- In California, CalFresh served five million people between 2023 and 2024, distributing $12 billion in aid.
- Nearly 45% of California adults experienced food insecurity in 2023.
Disproportionate Impact on Latino Communities:
- Latinos make up 55% of CalFresh recipients and are especially vulnerable to food insecurity.
- 40% of CalFresh child enrollees and 69% of working-age adult recipients are Latino.
- Participation is particularly high in agricultural counties like Imperial and across the Central Valley, where Latinos represent up to 90% of recipients.
Policy Changes Under the New Law:
- States with benefit payment error rates over 6% must now share SNAP costs, creating financial strain for high-enrollment states like California.
- The law introduces stricter work requirements, potentially disqualifying more low-income individuals from receiving aid.
- Over 3 million Americans could lose SNAP benefits nationwide under the new eligibility rules.
Broader Public Health Concerns:
- Food insecurity is linked to poor health outcomes, reduced access to care, and long-term economic instability.
- Over 3 million Californians are dually enrolled in CalFresh and Medi-Cal, including 1.8 million Latinos.
- Advocates warn that funding cuts could worsen homelessness and slow recovery in life expectancy among vulnerable populations.
What Experts Say:
- The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) warns that Latinos will bear the brunt of the cuts due to systemic barriers and geographic inequities.
- SNAP cuts are expected to be most severe in agricultural regions critical to the state’s food supply chain.
Next Steps:
- The SNAP overhaul will be rolled out over the coming years, with advocates urging state and federal officials to mitigate the most harmful impacts on high-risk communities.
