Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has mobilized the state’s National Guard to assist food banks as federal delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding leave hundreds of thousands of residents without benefits.
The deployment follows what Murphy called a “failure of the Trump Administration to fully and consistently fund” the critical program.
Air National Guard members began delivering refrigerated storage containers Wednesday to major food distribution centers across the state.
Key Points
- Governor Murphy ordered the New Jersey National Guard to assist food banks as SNAP benefit delays continue.
- Four refrigerated containers were deployed to expand emergency food storage in Hillside and Neptune.
- Over 800,000 New Jersey residents, nearly half of them children, rely on SNAP benefits now at risk of disruption.
Guard called in to stabilize food supply
Murphy said the move was necessary to protect families facing uncertainty over where their next meal will come from. The deployment is part of a statewide emergency response to maintain food distribution during what officials called an “unprecedented crisis.” Members of the Air National Guard delivered three refrigerated storage containers to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside and one to Fulfill in Neptune, boosting cold storage capacity at both sites.
Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays, Adjutant General of New Jersey, said Guard members “stand ready to serve” and are proud to ensure families maintain access to essential nutrition.
Coordinated state response
The operation is a joint effort among the Air National Guard, the Department of Health, the Office of Emergency Management, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority. Together, they are coordinating logistics, storage, and transportation for perishable goods while food banks adjust to a surge in demand.
Murphy said National Guard members are also supporting on-site food distribution in Hillside, where families are lining up for basic groceries amid funding uncertainty.
Federal delays leave families in limbo
According to the state, more than 800,000 New Jerseyans depend on SNAP benefits to meet nutritional needs. Nearly half are children, one in three are people with disabilities, and one in five are over 60. With November federal benefits still unavailable, state officials say many residents could face hunger in the coming days.
It is unknown how many migrants living in New Jersey are included in those figures.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture must release contingency funds before benefits can be distributed, and state officials warn of continued gaps if federal action is delayed. Murphy said New Jersey will “continue doing everything in our power” to support food banks and help families weather the crisis.
