Sacramento, California– SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he will deploy National Guard troops to support food banks in November, a move that comes in light of expected… Federal food aid delays Amid the government shutdown.
About 40 million low-income people across the United States, including about 5.5 million people in California, receive federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. But Newsom, a Democrat, warned that families should expect those benefits to be cut off next month.
He added: “This is a serious and urgent matter that requires immediate action.”
That’s a very different mission than President Donald Trump’s deployment of California National Guard troops to guard federal buildings and immigration agents in Southern California as part of his mass deportation agenda. He has also deployed or tried to send guard forces to him chicago, Washington, DCand Portland, Oregon.
Newsom, a longtime political rival of Trump, has opposed the president’s deployment of troops in Democratic-run cities. saying last month And that Trump cannot “trample on the authority of the state to protect its people.” A federal appeals court on Wednesday heard arguments over Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles. A lower court judge ruled that the federal government violated federal law.
Newsom said he is fast-tracking $80 million to food banks in nearly every county in the state.
The governor’s office said it is building its efforts to combat food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newsom ordered the National Guard and volunteers from a state-run program in 2020 to work with food banks across the state to identify needs. Newsom’s office said troops helped pack and deliver 800 million meals to people. The governor will share additional details about the new effort closer to November 1.
Trump is big Tax breaks and spending cuts Also set New rules for the federal program Also known as SNAP, which requires more people to work to receive food assistance.
The California Immigrant Policy Center is concerned that Newsom’s plan could inadvertently have a chilling effect due to Trump’s National Guard deployment, said Josh Stelick, policy director for the advocacy group. But Stehlik was happy to see the governor say the guard would not serve as a law enforcement official.
“It makes sense to mobilize the National Guard for the humanitarian purpose of providing critical, much-needed food assistance to people during the emergency caused by the federal government shutdown,” Stehlik said.
Volunteers through a state-run program will also provide support to food banks.
“During this critical time when D.C. is stripping communities of critical resources, Californians are doing what we always do — stepping up for each other,” said Josh Friday, director of the Governor’s Office of Community Service and Engagement, which oversees the program.