One Year Later: Trump’s H.R. 1 Cuts Continue, Acting Governor Robert Rivas Vows California Won’t Back Down on Health Care

A year since Trump and Congressional Republicans enacted draconian cuts to Medi-Cal, health care services and reproductive care, and the threat to millions of Californians persists. As Acting Governor, Robert Rivas reaffirms a commitment to do everything in California's power to prioritize safe, affordable and reliable access to health care. Here's how Golden State leaders continue to take action.

SACRAMENTO - One year after Trump and Congressional Republicans rammed through H.R. 1, cutting billions from Medi-Cal and state programs, California is still standing between families and the loss of their health care.

As Acting Governor, Robert Rivas is making clear that California will keep fighting - with emergency funding, landmark new laws protecting reproductive care, and a state budget that continues to push back against deeper cuts still on the horizon.

"One year ago, Trump and Washington declared war on California's families - gutting Medi-Cal, defunding women's health services, leaving millions wondering if they would still have coverage. California didn't blink, and our state will continue fighting: to keep clinics and hospitals open, protect patients and providers, and do everything in our power to make sure all Californians can walk into a doctor's office without fear they can't afford it. This battle isn't over, and I'm not going anywhere - I'll keep leading it."

-California Acting Governor Robert Rivas

Taking Fast Action to Defend Reproductive Care and Women's Health

Last year, before the passage of Trump's H.R. 1 spending plan, Governor Gavin Newsom and California leaders sounded the alarm: Trump and Congressional Republicans' "Big Ugly Bill" would rip health care coverage from more than 3.4 million Californians, lead to reduced access to care for millions more residents and nearly double costs for many Californians.

Acting Governor Robert Rivas condemned the cuts to health care access and coverage: "Trump and Republicans continue to attack women's rights and health, and now they're going after kids, too. The GOP is taking away essential care in our communities, targeting doctors and nurses, and leaving parents with fewer options for their children. I'll continue to fight back against the Republicans' anti-women and anti-parent agenda."

Trump's draconian cuts specifically targeted women's health, three years after the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In 2025, Rivas and California leaders warned that 200 Planned Parenthood health centers would be at risk of closing, with 1.1 million patients potentially blocked from care like birth control and cancer screenings, and decimated abortion access in all 50 states.

The Legislature moved swiftly and voted to pass protections for women's health, including AB 260, authored by Legislative Women's Caucus Chair Assemblymember Cecilia Aguair-Curry, to defend providers and allow them to continue to prescribe abortion medication.

And California fasttracked $140 million to make sure Planned Parenthood centers would remain open to serve women, moms and patients.

At the same time, the White House and Republicans in Washington refused to extend health care subsidies, taking nearly $3 billion from the pockets of California entrepreneurs, veterans, early retirees and working parents who rely on federal aid to pay for Covered California health plans.

Acting Governor Robert Rivas continues to fight for health care affordability, and this year advocated for a California budget that includes $300 million to assist families with paying for coverage.

Rivas has decried Trump's cancellation of the health care assistance: "Trump and Republicans gift-wrapped tax breaks for the rich, then took health care from the folks who need it most, hurting millions of people, from small business owners to retirees. It's unacceptable."

In addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars to help pay for subsidies, California Democrats acted with urgency earlier this year, accelerating $90 million for women's health and Planned Parenthood in February, on top of the $140 million from the previous year. This new law to support women's health clinics went into effect immediately.

"Trump is tearing down health care and increasing costs. Democrats are building it up - investing millions in women's health and maternal care, because families come first in California," Acting Governor Robert Rivas said upon delivery of the $90 million.

A California Budget that Protects Health Care Access and Affordability

This summer, California Democrats delivered a new state budget that puts health care first - preserving access to care and coverage, and stabilizing costs with an eye on affordability for workers and families.

"Working families deserve a budget that has their back - and that's exactly what California is delivering," Acting Governor Robert Rivas said upon passage of the new budget. "We're protecting health care, preserving food programs, investing in housing at record levels and building reserves to fight back no matter what Trump and Republicans throw at us. While Washington's agenda drives up prices and guts critical programs, California is focused on what matters: Real solutions that put affordability first."

Health care advocates and community, hospital and nonprofit leaders praised California legislative Democrats for taking a stand against Trump's relentless attacks on our health care system, which if left unchecked would continue to increase costs by taking more than $30 billion away from California Medi-Cal patients, families, seniors and children.

This year's California budget also makes key health investments to improve affordability:

• supports distressed hospitals by authorizing $190 million in loans
• lower premiums with $300 million for subsidies
• protects reproductive health care and gender-affirming care by investing tens of millions of dollars

Health advocates called the Assembly Democrats' budget one that "prioritizes Californians," "makes bold investments in protecting health care," "protects health care access and preserve the services residents rely on every day" and "puts patients first."

This budget comes as health care continues to be under attack because of Trump's H.R. 1, which has costs surging fast and an estimated 2 million Californians poised to completely lose Medi-Cal health care coverage - more than one out of every 10 recipients.

Trump's harsh new work reporting requirements would affect health care eligibility andjeopardize coverage for approximately 3.5 million Californians, as well. And another 4.9 million Californians are at risk due to new, twice-yearly eligibility redeterminations.

An estimated 200,000 immigrants - including refugees, asylees and trafficking survivors - will lose federal funding assistance for health care as well.

Trump's cuts are increasing health care costs, but instead of passing increases on to patients, the Legislature's budget protects access to care, keeps as many residents covered as possible, and lowers health insurance premiums for many Californians.

"While Washington's agenda drives up prices and guts critical programs, California is focused on what matters: Real solutions that put affordability first," Acting Governor Robert Rivas said about this year's budget.