Newsom’s Free Diaper Program Sparks Questions Over Cost, Political Connections

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newly announced “Golden State Start” diaper program is already drawing criticism from political opponents and watchdogs who are questioning both the cost of the initiative and the connections between the nonprofit selected to run it and the governor’s inner circle.

The statewide program, unveiled Friday at San Francisco’s Exploratorium, would provide free diapers to families of newborns through hospitals and birthing centers across California. The state has already approved roughly $7.4 million for the effort, with another $12.5 million proposed in Newsom’s 2026-27 budget, bringing the total projected cost to about $20 million. Officials say the goal is to distribute more than 40 million diapers in the program’s first year before eventually scaling up to 160 million annually.

While Newsom framed the initiative as a first-in-the-nation affordability program aimed at helping struggling families, critics say the rollout raises serious questions about political favoritism and taxpayer spending.

At the center of the controversy is California-based nonprofit Baby2Baby, which was selected to oversee diaper procurement, warehousing, and statewide distribution. The organization is led by co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof.

Critics have pointed to Weinstein’s role on the board of the California Partners Project, a nonprofit founded by California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom that focuses on advancing women in leadership roles. Opponents argue the overlap creates the appearance of insider relationships influencing state-funded contracts and partnerships.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has been among the most vocal critics of the program, arguing the state is spending taxpayer dollars inefficiently while directing money toward politically connected organizations.

“If you take the number of diapers they’re planning to send out and the amount of money that he’s spending on it, it’s 50 cents for each one,” Hilton said over the weekend. “But where’s the money coming from? Us.”

Some critics have also questioned the overall economics of the initiative, arguing diapers can often be purchased in bulk at lower retail prices. Others have raised concerns about whether the state conducted a competitive selection process before partnering with Baby2Baby.

The controversy has expanded online, where critics have accused the governor of using taxpayer money to benefit politically connected nonprofits. Some have also highlighted the broader political ties surrounding Baby2Baby leadership, including Kelly Sawyer Patricof’s connections to longtime Democratic donor networks through her family.

Supporters of the program, however, argue the criticism ignores the realities many low-income families face. Newsom and state lawmakers backing the effort say diapers are a basic necessity that can place a major financial burden on families already struggling with California’s high cost of living.

“For low-income families, diapers are the fourth-highest expenditure after rent, food, and utilities,” Sawyer Patricof said during Friday’s announcement.

Newsom defended the initiative as a direct response to rising affordability concerns, pointing to the 45% increase in diaper prices since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“The biggest problem, defined universally in our city, our state and our nation, is the issue of affordability,” Newsom said. “This is what affordability looks like. It’s not a slogan, it’s a box of diapers.”

Still, with the proposal now heading toward legislative review and expansion funding debates, the political controversy surrounding the program appears unlikely to fade anytime soon.