Newsom to deploy National Guard to assist food banks

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that he will deploy the National Guard to support food banks amidst an ongoing government shutdown now in its fourth week. California will also be fast-tracking $80 million in state funds in response to funding delays triggered by the government shutdown.

The financial assistance to food banks comes as millions of Californians are expected to see their SNAP benefits delayed next month as the shutdown continues with no end in sight.

Newsom’s office was clear that he would not be deploying the California National Guard in a law enforcement capacity, but rather in support of food banks. Newsom deployed the guard in a similar capacity once before in March 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.

“Trump’s failure isn’t abstract — it’s literally taking food out of people’s mouths,” said Newsom in a statement. “This is serious, this is urgent — and requires immediate action. Millions of Americans rely on food benefits to feed their families, and while Republicans in Washington drag their feet, California is stepping up once again to fill in the gaps.”

“I’m expediting state funds for food banks and directing the California National Guard and California Volunteers to help distribute this food to families,” Newsom continued. “As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, California is working to ensure CalFresh recipients don’t go hungry while food prices are spiking under President Trump.”

The governor’s deployment of the National Guard comes amid looming threats from President Donald Trump to deploy the guard to San Francisco for law enforcement purposes, despite Newsom and local officials imploring him not to do so. With crime in San Francisco near historic lows, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins have been emphatic in urging Trump to reconsider, despite saber rattling from the president and his Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem.

On Tuesday, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu signed onto an amicus brief in an effort to have the Supreme Court block a similar deployment to Chicago. Newsom on Tuesday said that if Trump did send the National Guard to SF, the state would take legal action of its own.

“Sending troops to San Francisco?” the governor tweeted. “Do it and we’ll sue.”