California officials warn federal health bill could strip coverage from up to 4 million residents

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state health leaders warned on an administration briefing that changes in a federal health bill under consideration in Congress could cause millions of Californians to lose health coverage and destabilize hospitals statewide.

Newsom said up to 3,400,000 people could lose coverage under Medi‑Cal, and an additional 600,000 people could drop Covered California plans if the bill and related amendments become law — a combined impact the governor said could reach about 4,000,000 people. He described the measure in Congress as the "big beautiful betrayal" and called its effects "devastating." He added the state faces roughly $28,400,000,000 in federal funding at risk tied to those coverage losses.

The warning came as Secretary Johnson, California's Health and Human Services secretary, described the proposals as "immediate threats to the well‑being of millions of Californians." She said the bill would impose new work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks that would increase administrative burden and reduce access to benefits. "These proposals are not abstract," she said. "These are immediate threats to the well‑being of…