California is facing a multi-year budget crisis and the Newsom administration is already pinching pennies. The Department of Finance is calling for an immediate freeze on non-essential spending ahead of the anticipated 68-billion dollar deficit. The department was directed by the governor's office to notify all state agencies to start cutting back. Some of the "freeze" categories include new goods and services contracts, IT equipment, fleet vehicles and office supplies. Entities are also ordered to cancel all plans for non-essential travel, such as participation in seminars, conferences, and training both in-state and out-of-state.