Santa Clara County DA Warns of Potential Layoffs and ‘Dire’ Safety Risks Amid Budget Crisis

Budget shortfalls could force the South Bay’s top prosecutor to abandon misdemeanor prosecutions, domestic violence cases and youth programs — leading to “tragic” consequences for public safety, according to Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen.

During his annual State of the Office address on Tuesday, Rosen said a potential 12% cut to his office’s general fund — estimated at $19 million — would likely result in the loss of 75 to 80 employees.

Speaking to KQED, Rosen called his office’s work “both exceptional and extraordinary.”

“While we’re very proud of those achievements, I have to let the residents know I’m very concerned about the budget cuts that are looming,” Rosen said. “And how it will affect everyone’s public safety in a very negative way.”

Rosen’s concern comes as Santa Clara County faces a $1 billion hole. H.R. 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has triggered what County Executive James R. Williams described as an “unprecedented fiscal crisis,” with the county projecting an enormous loss of federal and state revenue.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently approved $183 million in midyear reductions to the county’s public hospital system, eliminating 365 full-time positions countywide — many of which were vacant beforehand.

While Rosen’s office was spared from those cuts, 10 of those positions, including five attorney openings, came from the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office.

Public Defender Damon Silver said the strain is reaching a breaking point across the legal system. He noted his office has already eliminated non-mandated work, and warned that further cuts will harm legal defense services provided to residents who cannot afford an attorney.

“Balance between the two offices is critical to ensure fairness,” Silver said. “Both offices need appropriate funding to ensure a healthy criminal legal process.”

The County Executive’s Office, however, said that no formal budget recommendations for fiscal year 2026-2027 have been finalized. Per the county’s annual process, official proposals will be released by the County Executive on May 1, with the Board of Supervisors set to adopt a final budget by June 30.

Even with a voter-approved sales tax Measure A, which is expected to generate $330 million annually starting in April, the county is still projecting a $470 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year.

“The hospital system and every General Fund department is being asked to make difficult reductions,” Williams said in a statement. “The fact remains that the largest share of our General Fund resources goes to public safety functions.”

Rosen said his office would be among those hit hard. Without the $19 million, he said prosecutors could no longer pursue misdemeanor cases — including drunk driving, domestic violence and sexual assault cases in which victims are uncooperative. Those victim cases make up more than 70% of the office’s prosecutions, Rosen said, meaning thousands could go unprosecuted.

Rosen also said that prevention programs targeting youth, including anti-truancy efforts, gang intervention and drug treatment, would end up on the chopping block.

“We’re seriously underfunding public safety,” he said. “These proposed budget cuts would be dire.”