Governor Gavin Newsom deploys National Guard to food banks amid federal shutdown hunger crisis
California – As millions of people in California are struggling to get enough food during the continuing federal government shutdown, the state has started an emergency effort to fight hunger. Governor Gavin Newsom has sent California Volunteers and the California National Guard to food banks to help prepare and serve meals to families who are having trouble getting food because of delays in federal food assistance programs.
The California Department of Social Services organized the mission, which started its first operation at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. There are eight College Corps members and 32 National Guard service members on the deployment. They worked with staff and volunteers to pack and distribute food. The Governor also quickly sent $80 million in state money to food banks across California to make up for the lack of action by the federal government.
Governor Newsom noted that the deployment is a necessary humanitarian reaction to President Donald Trump’s refusal to end the federal shutdown.
“As SNAP delays hit dinner tables right before the holiday season, the state is working hard to keep families from going hungry. The efforts seen today will be ongoing and available to food banks across California that request greater assistance,” Newsom stated.
Major General Matthew P. Beevers of the California Military Department said the National Guard is proud to play a vital role in supporting food operations.
“Today, the California Military Department is on the ground supporting food bank operations in Los Angeles,” said Major General Beevers. “We are grateful to play a crucial role in this effort and honored to serve our communities once again. We are supporting our interagency partners at Cal OES, CDSS, and Cal Volunteers, and proud to be part of this incredible team.”
The Guard’s main job throughout this operation is to handle logistics, like packing boxes, shipping things, and keeping food supplies moving. Members do not deal directly with the public or work on enforcing immigration laws. The mission is like other humanitarian missions, such those during the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to wildfires, when the Guard helped communities during times of need.
California has done this before to make sure people have enough food. During the pandemic in 2020, National Guard members helped deliver more than 800 million meals to households across the state. The state is once again filling the gap created by Washington’s inaction, as 5.5 million CalFresh users are now having to wait for their benefits because of the shutdown.
Governor Newsom said again that California will keep doing things even when the federal government isn’t doing anything. Food banks will keep running with the help of state volunteers and Guard members until federal help starts up again and the government ends.
