Newson will deploy the California National Guard after millions are at risk of delayed food aid

Now in its third week, the ongoing federal government shutdown is likely to delay food aid for millions of Californians — prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to set aside $80 million in state aid and deploy the California National Guard to help food banks.

The governor unveiled the move today, days after the California Department of Human Services began notifying counties to prepare for the possibility that federally funded food assistance, known as CalFresh in California, could be cut. No federal intervention or the shutdown, which ends by Thursday, about 5.5 million low-income Californians enrolled in the program likely won’t get help for November — including nearly 3.5 million children and senior citizens.

• Newsomin a statement: “(President Donald) Trump’s failure is not abstract – he is literally taking food out of people’s mouths. This is serious, this is urgent – and it requires immediate action.”

California issues about $1.1 billion in CalFresh benefits each month. Although benefits for October have already been distributed, those who applied for the program between October 16 and October 31 will not receive assistance for the second half of the month, nor for November.

Recipients of California’s separate food assistance program for eligible noncitizens who cannot receive federal assistance, known as the California Food Assistance Program, should also expect delays.

• Angela Shingformer director of the Santa Clara County Department of Employment and Social Services, which runs CalFresh for the county: “The majority of people on benefits, generally speaking, are elderly and children. Most people on benefits are working and working more than one job. A lot of people don’t realize that. In a shutdown like this, it comes down to choices like, ‘Can I pay the rent?’ Or can I throw out together putting food on the table?’

The USDA, which oversees the federal benefits program, did not respond to a request for comment. Instead, he sent a copy of a memo he issued to state agencies on Oct. 10 notifying them of insufficient funds for November.

Last week, US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins published in social networks that the lack of appropriations is due to Democrats “putting free health care for illegal aliens and their political agenda ahead of food security for American families.”

Rollins is referring to Republican claims that Democratic leaders in Congress are responsible for the shutdown because they want free health insurance for undocumented immigrants. This is false. Democrats are calling for reversing the Medicaid cuts included in Trump’s spending bill and the expansion of subsidies used by most Affordable Care Act enrollees.

In 2023, nearly a quarter of California households experienced some food insecurityaccording to Public Policy Institute of California. In San Diego County — which has the largest military population in the state — local food banks are adding pop-up food banks due to the suspension to help combat food insecurity among members of the armed forces and federal employees of the county.