Jun 12, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Lieutenant Governor of California and gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom salutes during the championship parade in downtown Oakland. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Sacramento, California – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that he will deploy the California National Guard and California Volunteers to assist food banks across the state, as the ongoing federal government shutdown halts food benefits for millions of residents.
The move comes amid growing concern over the suspension of CalFresh funding — California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — which serves 5.5 million people statewide. The shutdown, now entering its third week, has left families uncertain about when or whether their food benefits will resume.
“This is serious, this is urgent — and it requires immediate action,” Newsom said in a statement. “Trump’s failure isn’t abstract; it’s literally taking food out of people’s mouths.”
Newsom said the state will fast-track up to $80 million in emergency funds to keep food banks stocked and operational while the shutdown continues. He compared the mobilization to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the California National Guard and volunteer networks helped deliver over 800 million meals to families facing food insecurity.
“The California National Guard will not be acting as law enforcement,” Newsom emphasized, addressing questions about the Guard’s role. “They are stepping in to help distribute food and support local food banks — just as they did during the pandemic, during wildfires, and when Californians needed them most.”
Major General Matthew P. Beevers, who leads the California Military Department, said the Guard’s members “are honored to serve their communities once again,” adding that the mission will involve close coordination with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the state’s volunteer corps.
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom called the federal inaction “cowardice” that punishes working families already struggling to make ends meet.
“The Trump administration and their GOP shutdown have turned their backs on working people, pulling food from the tables of families who were already struggling,” she said. “California is taking action to keep food on those tables.”
The shutdown’s impact on CalFresh is immediate. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ordered states to hold November’s benefit data, preventing California from issuing funds to new enrollees starting in late October. If the shutdown continues past October 23, all recipients could face a temporary suspension of benefits.
Josh Fryday, who heads the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, said California’s response reflects a long-standing ethos of self-reliance.
“During this critical time, as D.C. strips communities of vital resources, Californians are doing what we always do — stepping up for each other,” Fryday said. “Our Service Corps members will fill the need where Washington is failing.”
As the state braces for Thanksgiving amid higher food prices and uncertainty in Washington, Newsom framed the effort as both a moral and practical necessity.
“Millions of Californians rely on food benefits to feed their families,” he said. “We’re not waiting for Washington to act — we’re taking care of our own.”
