Gov. Gavin Newsom, Calif. State Officials, Blast Pres. Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill”
Gov. Gavin Newsom came out swinging June 27 against what he called the “Big Ugly Bill” and the “Big Beautiful Betrayal” — former President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal, which Newsom says would devastate California’s health care and food assistance systems.
Kim Johnson, secretary of the state’s Health and Human Services Agency, and Michelle Baass, director of California’s Department of Health Care Services, also participated in the news conference.
The bill, officially touted by Republicans as the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” would slash at least $28.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding to California and threaten health coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians. It also proposes billions in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), putting at risk the food security of hundreds of thousands of low-income families.
“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 – the opposite of what Republican leadership claims to stand for. 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. It’s dangerous, and anyone with common sense should oppose it.”
Cuts to Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, serves about 15 million Californians, which accounts for about 35% of the state’s population.
Under the plan, states would be forced to re-verify eligibility for ACA expansion adults every six months instead of annually, a move expected to strip coverage from over 400,000 Californians and cost the state $2.4 billion. Work requirements would eliminate benefits for up to 3 million more. Planned Parenthood warns the bill could shut down nearly 200 clinics in California alone.
SNAP changes would strip away between $2.8 and $5.4 billion annually, pushing 735,000 Californians off CalFresh — the state’s SNAP program — while saddling state and local governments with up to $4 billion in new costs.
Newsom pledged to fight back and urged Californians to speak out against the cuts that could lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.
The governor led a press conference June 27 alongside top health officials to outline the bill’s projected impact.
“This is devastating,” said Newsom at the press conference. “I know that word is overused, but his is, in many ways, an understatement of how reckless and cruel and damaging this is to millions and millions of people across this country — but more than any other state, here in California.
Black Student Enrollment in California’s Public Schools Reaches Lowest Level Since 1990s
The number of Black students in California’s public schools has dropped sharply over the last 10 years, as overall school enrollment across the state continues to fall. New data shows that enrollment has declined from 6.2 million students in 2014–15 to just 5.8 million in 2024–25.
According to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), this is the lowest total seen in California schools since the late 1990s.
The report shows that “in absolute terms, declining enrollment has meant falling numbers of students across most racial/ethnic subgroups.” While the number of Asian and multiracial students has grown, the number of Black and White students has gone down. The changes are most visible in large urban districts, where housing costs and migration out of state are likely playing a role.
At the same time, Latino students now make up the majority of the student population. “In 1998, shares of White and Latino students were similar, almost 40%, but by 2024–25, the share of Latino students had risen over 16 percentage points, while the share of white students fell 18 percentage points,” the report stated.
The share of students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged has increased, while the share of migrant and foster students has decreased. The number of English Learners has also dropped, partly due to a policy that exempts some transitional kindergarten students from testing.
PPIC researchers say these shifts are likely to continue as enrollment keeps falling. “The state’s education system will need to find ways to serve a changing student body,” the report concluded. Advocates say that means paying close attention to groups like Black students, whose numbers are shrinking but whose needs remain high.
