FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Kayla Blado 240-489-1803,
kayla.blado@hailstonecommunications.com
May 14, 2026
Union of 250,000 home and child care workers decry action as a direct attack on seniors and people with disabilities
San Diego, Cal. – Today, Vice President JD Vance and Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz announced the federal government would indefinitely withhold $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to the state of California as part of a “Medicaid fraud” initiative. This move is a direct attack on California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which allows over 900,000 seniors and people with disabilities to receive quality care in their home.The withholding of $1.3 billion in federal money would require California to unexpectedly cover this amount with unallocated state funds, causing a funding crisis for people who desperately rely on the IHSS program.
UDW Executive Director Doug Moore released the following statement:
“It’s clear that the Trump administration is using a politically motivated attack to try and create a fraud scandal where none exists. In the process, the most vulnerable Californians—seniors, people with disabilities, and their caregivers—are being used as political pawns. These are not numbers on a page—these are real people with serious health needs being cast aside for a cheap political stunt.
“The real scandal is the carelessness with which politicians disregard our community members in order to line the pockets of their billionaire friends. Last year, the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress gave away $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, by cutting vital social service programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
“Our communities rely on these services for survival. Restore the Medicaid funding now and stop playing games with life-saving care.”
In a post by Governor Newsom on X, he proclaimed that, “We hate fraud. But that’s NOT what this is.
“Vance and Oz are attacking programs that keep seniors and people with disabilities OUT of nursing homes. Pretty sick.”
The governor added that the IHSS program saves the state taxpayers $107,000 per person a year.
UDW represents more than 204,000 IHSS providers in California, and helps serve over 900,000 IHSS recipients across the state. Together, IHSS is essential for over 1.5 million Californians who provide and receive these services. While many IHSS providers have made caregiving their profession, others are family members who left their careers when loved ones faced a health emergency.
The median IHSS worker is paid just $18.50 per hour and the average recipient receives about 118 hours per month of paid care—although many providers must provide unpaid care to clients who require 24/7 care. IHSS providers are responsible for dressing, bathing, grooming, and medical accompaniment, among other vital tasks.
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UDW represents more than 250,000 dedicated home care and family child care providers across California. Their members are the backbone of care for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families—fighting for fair wages, better working conditions, and policies that strengthen our communities.