As calls mount over women’s health care, California Gov. Gavin Newsom stepped forward Thursday to respond to blistering remarks from actress Halle Berry. The criticism came after she publicly condemned his repeated veto of a menopause care bill.
Halle Berry Raises the Heat
At the The New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Berry confronted Newsom over his decision to block the Menopause Care Equity Act — not once, but two years in a row. She said the vetoes showed he places little value on women’s health needs. “Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one, but two years in a row,” Berry told the audience. “But that’s OK, because he’s not going to be governor forever.”
She continued, “With the way he has overlooked women — half the population — by devaluing us in mid-life, he probably should not be our next president either.” The words drew audible gasps from the crowd.
Berry framed menopause care as a serious health issue. She argued if men faced similar physiological disruption, the response would be urgent. The veto, she said, symbolized a broader neglect of women approaching mid-life.
Gavin Newsom Pushes Back
On Thursday, speaking at Newark Airport, Newsom addressed Berry’s critique. He said Berry “didn’t know” his administration plans to include menopause-care funding in the 2026-27 state budget. “We’re reconciling,” he reportedly told reporters.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office described Newsom’s past vetoes as motivated by concern that the bill would raise health-care costs for working women and their families.
Despite the criticism, the spokesperson expressed admiration for Berry’s advocacy and affirmed the governor’s support for expanding care in a fiscally responsible way.
The Menopause Care Equity Act — passed by the legislature in 2024 and 2025 — aimed to mandate insurance coverage for evaluation and treatment of perimenopause and menopause symptoms, and encourage medical-provider training in menopause care.
Supporters argue the bill would close a long-standing gap in women’s health care. Critics, including Newsom, worry the sweeping mandates could raise premiums for millions of working women and families already under financial strain.
With the possibility of a new funding proposal in early 2026, the debate over menopause coverage and women’s midlife health has transitioned from symbolic to potentially structural.
Berry’s condemnation, especially her suggestion that Newsom should not run for president, comes as the governor may eye a 2028 presidential bid.