California is once again at the center of a growing national controversy — and this time, the numbers are so staggering they’re sparking new calls for accountability.
Fresh data from California reveals ambulance costs funded by taxpayers could soar by a jaw-dropping 383%, and the Trump administration says it knows why.
At the heart of the issue is Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to expand state-funded Medi-Cal and federally backed Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants. Now, federal officials are sounding the alarm, warning that everyday Americans — especially seniors — are being forced to shoulder the burden.
DHS: Benefits Intended for Americans Are Going to Illegal Immigrants
For months, Homeland Security and the Trump administration have been warning that blue states are quietly funneling taxpayer dollars to individuals who entered the country illegally. Now DHS says the skyrocketing ambulance costs are a prime example of why the system is breaking down.
“President Trump always promised to protect Medicaid for Americans who earned it,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. “After Joe Biden allowed millions of illegal aliens into our country, DHS and CMS are working to ensure taxpayer benefits go to law-abiding citizens — not those who violated our borders.”
McLaughlin pointed out that even California admitted the system was overwhelmed when it froze new Medi-Cal enrollment for illegal immigrants earlier this year.
Newsom’s Plan: Freeze Enrollment — Then Charge Illegals a Premium
In May, Newsom unveiled a new policy:
- 2026: No new illegal immigrants allowed to enroll in Medi-Cal
- 2027: Those already in the system will have to pay a small premium
But Democrats in Sacramento significantly watered down the governor’s proposal. Newsom originally wanted illegal migrants to pay $100 a month, but California’s Democratic Assembly slashed it to just $30 — an amount many seniors spend on a single prescription.
For millions of Americans watching their own healthcare costs rise, this move felt like a direct slap in the face.
The Ambulance Price Explosion: From $339 to $1,637 Per Ride
One of the biggest financial drains is emergency ambulance transportation. And the numbers are shocking:
- 2022: $339 per ambulance trip
- 2024: $1,168 per trip
- 2025 request: $1,597
- 2026 request: $1,637
That’s almost a 382% increase, and taxpayers are the ones being asked to pay for it.
While California officials won’t directly say illegal immigrants are driving the spike, DHS strongly hinted that the connection is hard to ignore — especially since illegal migrants overwhelmingly use Medicaid through emergency services.
DHS Wants Answers: Who Is Using These Benefits?
The Trump administration is now pushing for full transparency.
“This information is essential,” McLaughlin said. “We need to know who is in our country, what risks they pose, and which taxpayer-funded benefits they’re using.”
She didn’t hold back:
“California Democrats, like Gavin Newsom, must stop putting illegal aliens ahead of American citizens.”
California’s Hidden Loophole: How the State Gets Federal Dollars for Illegal Migrant Care
One of the most eye-opening parts of the story is California’s reliance on a complex funding loophole called intergovernmental transfers (IGTs). Here’s how it works:
- Counties and public hospitals send money to the state.
- California labels that money as “Medicaid spending.”
- The federal government matches it with U.S. taxpayer dollars.
- The state then quietly returns the original funds to local agencies — keeping the federal money.
In short, California inflates its spending on paper to get more federal dollars, which can then support services for illegal immigrants.
Private ambulance providers stay locked in at the old price. Government-run ambulance services — funded by taxpayers — are the ones ballooning.
DHS says national taxpayers are subsidizing California’s decisions whether they like it or not.
Why California Is Ground Zero for the Crisis
Other states may use similar tactics, but California’s massive illegal immigrant population places it at the center of the storm. For many Americans — especially older adults who spent decades paying into the system — the idea of illegal immigrants receiving expanded benefits while their own premiums rise is sparking outrage.
And with ambulance costs set to increase again in 2025 and 2026, the pressure on taxpayers isn’t slowing down.
BOTTOM LINE
The Trump administration says the California model is unsustainable — and unfair.
Newsom says he’s managing the situation, but the numbers tell a different story.
Taxpayers, especially seniors and working families, are being left with the bill.
