Congresswoman Young Kim of California’s 40th district has called on Governor Gavin Newsom to conduct a comprehensive investigation into fraud within the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known locally as CalFresh. In a letter sent today, Kim urged the governor to ensure that benefits are directed to eligible Californians and not to undocumented immigrants.
The Government Accountability Office reported that more than $10.5 billion in improper SNAP payments were made nationwide during fiscal year 2023. Kim cited these figures as she expressed concern over the ongoing government shutdown, which she said is straining resources and threatening food assistance for millions of Californians.
“Over 152,000 federal workers living in California — workers that provide services for the entire state — have missed their paychecks. This shutdown has jeopardized federal food assistance for more than 5 million Californians enrolled in CalFresh. I applaud the President for partially funding November 2025 benefits through the SNAP Contingency Fund, but benefits cannot be fully restored until Democrats quit playing politics and reopen our government,” Kim wrote in her letter.
She continued, “It is essential that we root out fraud in CalFresh, including providing benefits to illegal aliens, so that our low-income children, seniors, and veterans who are American citizens can receive their benefits during this Democrat-caused shutdown.”
Kim requested specific information from Governor Newsom regarding steps taken by the state to prevent fraud and abuse within CalFresh. She asked about actions to detect and respond to misuse of funds, adherence to federal guidance since April 2025 concerning eligibility of undocumented immigrants, oversight mechanisms at county and local offices, and data related to SAVE system verifications.
Young Kim has represented California’s 40th congressional district since 2021 after succeeding Gil Cisneros. She previously served in the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2016. Born in Incheon, South Korea in 1962, Kim currently resides in La Habra. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1985.
