"Newsom's Budget Balancing Act: Tapping Reserves and Cutting Spending to Close Deficit"

Facing a projected $37.9 billion budget deficit, California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed cutting the state's climate funding by about 7% compared to last year's budget, spreading the reduced funds over seven years. The plan includes delays in spending on zero emission cars and trucks, as well as cuts and delays in clean energy, wildfire and forest resilience, water recycling, and coastal resilience programs. Environmental groups have criticized the proposal, expressing concerns that cutting back on state spending now would cost the state more in the long run.