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Risks to California’s Safety Net from Federal SNAP Cuts

The new LPPI analysis uses data from the California Health Interview Survey and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to examine who depends on CalFresh and why any reductions in support would have widespread consequences. The findings from the report illustrate the program’s role in addressing food insecurity, supporting working families, and sustaining California’s broader safety net.

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Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

New UCLA Report Details Risks to California’s Safety Net from Federal SNAP Cuts

LOS ANGELES (July 9, 2025) — Federal legislation signed July 4, 2025, will reduce SNAP funding by $186 billion over the next decade. A new study by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) warns these reductions will pose serious challenges for California’s food assistance system, known as CalFresh, which serves 5 million residents.

The new LPPI analysis, authored by Arturo Vargas Bustamante, Ahmad Ismail, Jie Zong, Silvia R. González, and Rosario Majano, uses data from the California Health Interview Survey and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to examine who depends on CalFresh and why any reductions in support would have widespread consequences. The findings from the report illustrate the program’s role in addressing food insecurity, supporting working families, and sustaining California’s broader safety net.

Key findings include: 

  • Nearly half (48%) of low-income Latino adults in California experience food insecurity. Research links food insecurity to poorer health outcomes and reduced ability to access care, impacts that CalFresh and Medi-Cal help mitigate.
  • Latinos make up 55% of CalFresh participants statewide, underscoring the importance of the program to the state’s plurality.
  • Among working-age Latino CalFresh enrollees (ages 18–64), 69% participate in the labor force—the highest rate compared to enrollees of other racial and ethnic groups. These data highlight that CalFresh is a critical support for working families, not just the unemployed.
  • Children (ages 0–17) make up 40% of Latino CalFresh enrollees, compared to a statewide average of 33%, highlighting the program’s importance for child nutrition in California’s young Latino population.
  • More than 3 million Californians are dually enrolled in both CalFresh and Medi-Cal, including 1.8 million Latinos. This high overlap  shows how CalFresh reduces financial strain and improves health access for families already facing structural barriers.

“These cuts aren’t just numbers on a budget line—they represent real harm to communities across California,” said Bustamante, faculty research director at LPPI and professor of Health Policy and Management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. “Reducing food assistance means forcing families to make impossible choices between meals, rent, and healthcare. It risks deepening existing inequalities and will hit hardest in regions and neighborhoods that are already struggling with food insecurity.”

The authors also found that even though federal “public charge” rules that once discouraged benefit use were reversed in 2021, fear and confusion about immigration consequences continue to deter participation in public programs. In 2023, 38% of Latino CalFresh enrollees and 33% of non-enrolled Latinos reported avoiding participating in public programs such as CalFresh due to concerns it might harm their or a family member’s immigration status. By contrast, avoidance rates were much lower among white (7%), Black (6%), and Asian (21%) Californians, highlighting a significant barrier to access for immigrant and mixed-status households.

Additionally, the brief shows that CalFresh enrollment patterns show notable regional differences, with participation especially high in California’s agricultural areas. In Imperial County, approximately 90% of CalFresh enrollees are Latino, while in Central Valley counties such as Fresno, Tulare, and Kings, Latino residents make up about three-fourths of all participants. These regions are critical to California’s food production and economy but experience elevated rates of food insecurity, making them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of any reductions in benefits.

“California has a responsibility to ensure that children, seniors, working parents, and immigrant communities don’t fall through the cracks as these federal cuts take effect,” added Majano, research analyst at LPPI. “We need thoughtful planning and strong coordination now to protect the state’s safety net and prevent even greater hunger and hardship in the regions already facing the highest levels of food insecurity.”

Read the full data brief here.

About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute that seeks to inform, engage, and empower Latinos through innovative research and policy analysis. LPPI aims to promote equitable and inclusive policies that address the needs of the Latino community and advance social justice. latino.ucla.edu.