President Trump’s July reform — the One Big Beautiful Bill — is about to completely overhaul SNAP in California, and reporters in the state are already sounding the alarm. This isn’t a tweak. It’s the biggest tightening of the food-benefit system in decades, and every corner of CalFresh is about to feel it.
The most dramatic change is work requirements. The Trump administration has reinstated strict rules: every adult between the ages of 18 and 64 must be working, volunteering, or in job training at least 80 hours per month. The old cutoff age of 54 has been wiped out. For millions who haven’t worked in years, that is a seismic shift.
The administration also confirmed that refugees and asylees will no longer be eligible for SNAP benefits. California fought to keep them on the rolls—but USDA told the state it can’t create a separate standard. The phase-out is happening nationwide, and California is no exception.
Other “temporary protections” that ballooned the welfare rolls during the last administration are being pulled back as well. Homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults aging out of foster care (18–24) will no longer receive broad automatic exemptions. The age of blanket carve-outs is ending.
California officials say the impact will be staggering. As many as 395,000 current CalFresh recipients could lose eligibility once the federal rules are fully implemented. That number comes from the state itself, not conservative think tanks. If anything, the real number could be higher.
Some of the pain is already starting. As of November 1st, benefit formulas were recalculated nationwide. Many Californians will see reduced SNAP allotments before the work requirements even take effect. For people living paycheck-to-paycheck, this is going to feel instant.
County governments are already scrambling. They are urging beneficiaries to update their contact information or risk missing time-sensitive notices. Los Angeles County has begun hosting public webinars just to explain what is coming—and how quickly it will arrive.
This is not a symbolic move or a political stunt. It is a structural reboot of America’s welfare system, with California—one of the most welfare-dependent states in the country—being hit first and hardest. The message from Washington is simple: the era of endless benefits with no expectations is over.