June 2, 2026 - On Monday, federal rules are taking effect that will strip away food benefits from hundreds of thousands of people. By expanding time-limit work rules for recipients of CalFresh, federally known as SNAP, the Republican budget bill H.R. 1 puts an estimated 665,500 people statewide at risk of losing food assistance. Over 1 in 5 Californians already struggle with food insecurity, and H.R. 1’s sweeping cuts will exacerbate the state’s ongoing hunger crisis.
“The Republican federal government’s cruel and punitive policies are forcing the poorest Californians into even deeper poverty,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee, Chair of the Human Services Committee. “The work requirements are red tape traps that cut off vital food aid from low-income Californians. This is yet another federal policy to starve our families. Amid the federal regime’s direct assault on safety net programs, we must step up to mitigate H.R. 1’s devastating impacts and ensure access to food.”
Starting June 1, 2026, H.R. 1 significantly expands the population of Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) who are subject to work requirements. It changes the definition of ABAWD to include people between the ages of 18-64 (up from 18-54) who are able to work and do not have children under the age of 14 (down from 18). They must prove that they are working, volunteering, or enrolled in school/job training for at least 20 hours weekly. People who are unable to comply will be limited to just 3 months of CalFresh benefits over a 3-year period. Even those who meet the work requirements could be at risk of losing their benefits due to onerous administrative hurdles.
H.R. 1 also eliminates California’s state-wide exemption from implementing CalFresh work requirements. The new time-limit work rules will hit parents, older adults, and low-wage workers the hardest. Seasonal farmworkers, home health aides, gig workers, and retail employees often work inconsistent schedules and lack control over their hours. Parents holding down a job must navigate shifting work schedules to accommodate their children. Seniors who depend on food aid may soon find themselves without a lifeline to afford groceries. In addition, H.R. 1 eliminates work requirement exemptions for veterans, unhoused individuals, and former foster youth.
The expanded work requirements are part of a series of federal policies to deny people’s access to food assistance. In April, H.R. 1 began restricting CalFresh eligibility from humanitarian immigrants, including asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking victims. Moving forward, the Republican budget bill will force the state and counties to shoulder additional costs for CalFresh.
In the wake of drastic federal cuts, Assemblymember Lee is doubling down on his work to tackle hunger. The Assemblymember has secured $46 million in the last two years to revive a CalFresh program that provides extra food benefits to families. This year, he is requesting $100 million to expand the successful initiative known as the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program. He has also coauthored legislation that seeks to exempt former foster youth from the expanded work requirements.
Meanwhile, the state has deployed $20 million to support local counties in preparing for the expanded work requirements. The 2025-2026 budget allocated $80 million for CalFood, which enables food banks to purchase California-grown food. By expanding the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the state will provide food benefits to noncitizens aged 55 or older regardless of their immigration status. Assemblymember Lee has also coauthored legislation to extend CFAP to those who lose CalFresh eligibility due to their humanitarian immigration status or the expanded work requirements.
Source: Assemblymember Alex Lee
