URGENT UPDATE: California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced immediate action in response to the federal government shutdown, which threatens food assistance for millions of Californians. As of this morning, Newsom is deploying the California National Guard and allocating $80 million in state support to assist food banks across the state.
The situation is dire. Without federal intervention or a resolution to the shutdown by Thursday, November 2, 2023, approximately 5.5 million low-income Californians enrolled in the CalFresh program may not receive their essential benefits for November. This includes nearly 3.5 million children and senior citizens who rely on this aid for their daily nutrition.
Newsom took to social media to express his outrage, stating, “The Republican Government Shutdown is about to delay food benefits for MILLIONS of California families. I am deploying the National Guard on a humanitarian mission to support CA’s food banks. Donald Trump is using millions of Americans as political pawns. It’s disgusting.”
California distributes about $1.1 billion in CalFresh benefits each month. While benefits for October have already been sent out, those who applied for assistance between October 16 and October 31 will face delays, affecting their support for both November and the latter half of October.
Additionally, recipients of the California Food Assistance Program, which caters to eligible noncitizens, are bracing for similar delays. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has not provided clarity but has issued a memo indicating insufficient funds for the upcoming month.
This crisis comes at a time when nearly 25% of California households are experiencing food insecurity, as reported by the Public Policy Institute of California. In San Diego County, notable for its high military population, local food banks are ramping up efforts with pop-up facilities to combat food shortages among service members and federal employees.
The political implications are significant. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently attributed the funding shortfall to Democratic leaders prioritizing health care for undocumented immigrants over food security. Democrats counter this narrative, arguing for the rollback of Medicaid cuts proposed in Trump’s spending bill.
As this situation continues to develop, the urgency for immediate federal action to restore funding grows. The deployment of the National Guard marks a critical step in addressing the immediate needs of vulnerable populations. Residents and advocates are urged to stay informed about the evolving situation and to support local food banks during this crisis.
Stay tuned for updates as this situation unfolds.
