Big Bullshit Budget Bill, Which Young Kim Cast Deciding Vote to Approve, Will Sell Off HALF of CA-40’s Public Lands

Tustin, CA – This week, Republicans controlling the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee advanced their latest version of the Trump-backed budget reconciliation bill, which was approved by the House thanks to Young Kim’s deciding vote. Their updated bill includes an outrageous “firesale” of more than 20% of California’s 40th Congressional District, in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations.

22% of CA-40’s entire map area, and half of all its undeveloped public land, is made up of the Cleveland National Forest, established in 1908 by Republican President Theodore Roosevelt and named in honor of former (Democratic) President Grover Cleveland. The Senate Republicans’ version of the budget reconciliation bill would, within the next five years, sell most of the 55,000 acres of Federal forest in CA-40, together with more than 255 million acres nationwide, for development by private bidders.

Cleveland National Forest is one of the most fire-prone areas of the nation, and recent fires in the region have confirmed that incremental development in and around urban-forest interface areas puts people and property at direct risk.

On May 22nd, 2025, Young Kim cast the deciding vote for House approval of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bullshit Bill, which deeply cuts Medicaid, Medicare, and critical assistance programs for food-insecure seniors and children, while slashing taxes for the very wealthiest Americans.

Map of National Forest privatization in and around CA-40; dark green indicates areas for sale

“Young Kim is one of the most corrupt members of Congress,” said Esther Kim Varet. “She is a bought and paid for accomplice, willing to sell off 20% of her own district to fund tax breaks for Republican megadonors, after she cast the key House vote to approve Trump’s Big Bullshit Bill. Young Kim loves pretending to care about protecting CA40’s forests from fire, but her silence on the Republican forest firesale speaks for itself, showing us what she truly cares about. CA40 is not for sale — but we all know that Young Kim is!”

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California’s 40th is a Congressional District representing portions of Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County in Southern California. CA-40’s constituents voted for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020. House Majority PAC lists CA-40 as a top target, the DCCC lists CA-40 as a “District in Play”, and the Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index (PVI) ranks the district as one of the 10 most vulnerable House seats with a Republican incumbent in the nation. Esther Kim Varet raised over $1 million in Q1 2025, outpacing the combined Democratic field by over 2.5x.

Incumbent Republican Young Kim’s support for MAGA policies, including a federal ban on abortion even in cases of rape and incest, support of the GOP budget bill that would strip 40,000+ of her constituents from Medicaid, blocking legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and rejection of common sense gun safety, have made Kim extremely vulnerable. In contrast, Esther Kim Varet will always vote to protect women’s right to choose, provide access to healthcare, lower prescription drug costs, and support responsible gun safety.

CA-40 includes the cities of Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, Orange, Chino Hills, Tustin, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Villa Park, Lake Forest, the unincorporated communities of North Tustin and Coto de Caza, and parts of Brea and Corona.