With federal funding gone, California is winding down CalFresh Healthy Living — a program that delivers free nutrition education and obesity‑prevention services — and local health departments expect a “dampening impact” on their capacity, a Nutrition Policy Institute brief says.
Mandatory nationwide funding stopped on Sept. 30, 2025, after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law in July 2025, but California extended the phase‑out using unspent FY25 funds through April 30, 2026.
CalFresh Healthy Living, the state's version of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, was designed to support good nutrition and increased physical activity in low-resource California communities.
NPI found that 73% of local health departments reported that less than half or none of their nutrition and physical activity programs would continue after funding ended. Only two departments said all programming would continue during the first year following the lapse.
Among departments planning to continue some programming, 61% anticipate lacking staff, time or resources to evaluate the work.
Still, 74% attempted to sustain or transition programs by offering “train‑the‑trainer sessions” to partner organizations, and 68% developed written guidance. The sessions were most commonly directed toward K–12 schools and early childhood programs and focused primarily on nutrition and physical activity.
Although 46% of departments found or applied for new funding, only six have secured support since July 2025, with others awaiting decisions on pending applications.
“While efforts have been made to sustain select initiatives through partnerships and integration into other programs, maintaining the same level of reach and impact will be a challenge without dedicated funding and infrastructure,” one respondent said.
