California National Guard assists Los Angeles food banks as SNAP benefits expire
The government shutdown ended food assistance benefits on Nov. 1, prompting the National Guard to assist food banks in Los Angeles.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon will withdraw some National Guard troops from Chicago and Portland, Oregon, weeks after President Donald Trump sent them in to combat what he called an increase in crime, two U.S. defense officials familiar with the decision said Sunday, Nov. 16.
One of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 200 California National Guard troops deployed to Portland and 200 Texas National Guard troops deployed to Chicago will return home as early as Nov. 16.
A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Pentagon has told the state that the National Guard will begin returning from Oregon. “We’re happy to finally have them home. It’s been a long time coming,” a spokesperson for Newsom said.
Last month, the Trump administration sent troops to Chicago and Portland, saying they were needed to support immigration enforcement agents in the country confronting activists and protesters.
However, the military did not participate in migration operations in these cities due to lawsuits challenging the military’s deployment.
Spokespeople for the Pentagon and Oregon’s governor did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state has not heard from the federal government about a troop withdrawal.
“In the coming days, the department will modify and/or right-size Title 10 locations in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago to ensure a continuous, long-term presence in each city,” U.S. Northern Command posted on Friday’s X.
“Our military in each city (and others) is trained, ready, and mobilized whenever needed to support law enforcement and protect the safety of our citizens.”
Trump, a Republican, has also deployed the National Guard to other Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles, Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C.
The deployment has been criticized by Democrats who have filed a lawsuit seeking to block it, and the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether President Trump’s actions are legal.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Jasper Ward; Editing by Sergio Non, Alex Richardson and Paul Simao)
