With California facing a massive $18 billion budget deficit, DeMaio Calls for “Emergency” Suspension of Free Taxpayer-Funded Healthcare to Illegal Immigrants
California State Assemblymember Carl DeMaio today blasted Governor Gavin Newsom after a mid-year financial report on the CA state budget revealed that the true annual cost of providing free taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegal immigrants has now skyrocketed to $13.1 billion in the current budget — DOUBLING the original $6.5 billion estimate Newsom falsely claimed when he proposed the giveaway.
“What was once a dishonest $6 billion initial cost estimate has exploded to a $13.1 billion budget buster – how much more will Gavin Newsom force California taxpayers to pay before he admits he lied and puts an end to this offensive budget-busting gift of free healthcare coverage to illegal immigrants?” asked DeMaio.
“It is increasingly obvious that Gavin Newsom and CA Democrats knew damn well they were misleading the public when they approved this gift of taxpayer funds to illegal immigrants,” DeMaio said.
“By continuing this expensive giveaway to illegal immigrants all while making serious cuts in healthcare services to our own citizens, Gavin Newsom is intentionally pushing California citizens to the back of the line and is putting healthcare coverage of poor people at risk by driving Medi-Cal toward insolvency,” DeMaio warned.
DeMaio points to the budget report issued by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office that also warns that California’s broader budget situation is rapidly deteriorating: the 2026–27 deficit has ballooned to $18 billion, structural operating deficits are projected at $35 billion per year, and the state’s “wall of debt” has grown to $20 billion as Democrats rely heavily on borrowing to cover overspending.
DeMaio is calling on the Governor to immediately suspend all free healthcare programs for illegal immigrants and remove the $13.1 billion from the upcoming budget to avoid deeper cuts or tax hikes on Californians.
“This is exactly why California is broke — reckless spending, cooked-book estimates, and billions handed out to illegal immigrants while our own citizens get pushed aside. It must end now.” DeMaio says.
DeMaio is available for interviews by phone, Zoom, or in person at the State Capitol.