Statement from County Executive James R. Williams on the Impact of Proposed Federal Funding Cuts to Santa Clara County Services

“The House of Representatives has voted on a federal budget resolution led by House Republican leaders proposing up to $2 trillion in spending cuts, with $880 billion in potential cuts to Medicaid. 

Cutting Medicaid funding would be a direct attack on families here in Santa Clara County and across the country. Medicaid is a critical social safety net program that ensures that nearly 1 in 5 Americans has the healthcare access that they need, making it possible for millions of children, parents, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors to get healthy and stay healthy.  Approximately half children in the United States receive their health coverage through Medicaid.  

Today, at the request of the Board of Supervisors, I publicly shared the latest information we have regarding the impact of federal funding cuts to Santa Clara County programs and services. Medicaid is the single largest source of federal revenue for Santa Clara County, representing about $1.9 billion in funding received by the County this year alone, and Medicaid reductions would directly imperil a critical funding source for the County’s operating budget. 

In no uncertain terms, this would pose grave challenges to the County’s healthcare services, which includes the operation of three public hospitals and fourteen health clinics serving hundreds of thousands of people—as well as jeopardizing the primary funding source for behavioral health services. All of our residents, regardless of insurance status, take advantage of the services we provide at these County-operated facilities every day.

I am working closely with our Board of Supervisors, our County Counsel, and our state and federal elected representatives to do everything we can to protect the critical services for our community that are currently under direct threat. If the proposed cuts in federal funding go forward, and without additional support from the State, we will likely be faced with very difficult decisions regarding cuts to critical County services in the months ahead.

If the federal government chooses to abdicate its responsibility to take care of those most in need, I know that Santa Clara County will rise to meet this moment in the way that we always have—with resilience, with compassion, and with a deep commitment to supporting the health and well-being of every one of our residents.” 

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