San Diego supervisors ask county to plan for sweeping federal cuts to food, housing and health programs

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on June 11 directed the county chief administrative officer to develop a comprehensive strategy to prepare for potential federal changes that would reduce funding and increase administrative requirements for health care, food and housing programs.

The board’s action — passed by a 4‑1 vote with Supervisor Jim Desmond opposed — asked county staff to assess staffing and operational readiness, estimate fiscal shortfalls and identify options for funding, including midyear adjustments, intergovernmental cost‑sharing and philanthropic partners. A separate recommendation to prepare a notification plan for CalFresh recipients only if and when the federal bill becomes law was bifurcated and failed on a tie vote.

The board’s letter responds to proposals in a federal package discussed in Congress (referred to in the meeting as the “1 Big Beautiful Bill Act” or HR 1) that supervisors and county staff say could shift substantial costs and red tape to counties. Vice Chair Lawson R. Reimer, who led the item, summarized the local stakes: “The bill … slashes housing and…