Health Care Services and Jobs in the Community on the Line with New Federal Funding Policies
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County workers chanted outside the administration building early Tuesday morning, worried about layoffs and patient services as federal funding cuts loom.
The potential reductions stem from the Trump administration’s proposal to scale back funds tied to undocumented immigrants in the county’s healthcare system. That could leave thousands without access to care, and county employees uncertain about their jobs.
“These are lives on the line. People will die if this happens,” said one worker. “They are indicating that 7,500 people are going to seamlessly transition to other overburdened clinics in the community, and that’s just not a realistic situation.”
Union members from SEIU Locals 620 and 721 rallied outside the county building, holding signs and calling for job protections. Many said the cuts would not only strain families already living paycheck to paycheck, but also leave vulnerable patients without the support they rely on.
“Sad because they’re family,” one employee said of their co-workers. “We’ve been together for the longest, and we work together as a team.”
Inside, Santa Barbara County Supervisors heard from more than 50 speakers, including healthcare workers, patients, and community leaders, urging the county to find alternative funding and preserve critical services.
Supervisor Steve Lavagnino pressed public health officials on whether every patient would still receive care.
“Are you confident that with a warm handoff, each person will be able to get the services that they need?” Lavagnino asked.
County Public Health Director Dr. Mouhanad Hammami said that work is underway to reassign all affected patients.
“That means that everybody has now a provider,” Hammami said. “Now the heavy lifting of coordinating with that provider, ensuring that those patients are getting an appointment, ensuring that they are receiving the care they need, that’s why we are looking at other alternatives. We’re looking at urgent care as well.”
Hammami added that local health systems and free clinics have been supportive of efforts to expand access through “phase two” planning.
Still, community advocates warned that the county’s plan remains uncertain.
“This is a premature plan with more questions than answers,” said Eder Gaona with the Fund for Santa Barbara.
Santa Maria Councilmember Gloria Soto, also with Future Leaders of America, said the transition could have devastating effects for those who depend on county doctors.
“What does this mean for the chronically ill patients who have built trust with county doctors?” she asked. “The real-world consequence is that thousands of patients will be cut off from the county’s healthcare systems.”
The county is delaying any final decision until November 18, the last possible date to issue layoff notices before the end of the year. Until then, officials say they’ll keep exploring solutions to protect both patients and employees.
“Nothing is going to prevent the communities from still seeking these services,” one worker said. “The work is still going to be there.”
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