Governor Tim Walz Signs Executive Order Creating Minnesota Statewide Food Pantry Network for Veterans Amid Rising Food Insecurity

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Governor Tim Walz has signed Emergency Executive Order 25-11, officially directing the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) to establish a statewide Veteran Food Pantry Network aimed at combating food insecurity among veterans, service members, and their families. The order, signed and filed on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025, underscores Minnesota’s commitment to ensuring that those who served the nation have access to essential nutrition resources.

According to the executive order, Minnesota is home to more than 280,000 veterans, and data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that approximately 13% of veterans enrolled in VA health care programs report experiencing food insecurity. The order authorizes MDVA to coordinate a statewide network of food pantries dedicated to veterans, partner with nonprofit and private-sector organizations, and accept donations of nonperishable food items to sustain the effort.

Walz’s Action Builds on Broader Statewide Food Assistance Efforts

Governor Walz’s directive comes amid ongoing statewide efforts to address Minnesota’s growing hunger crisis. In October 2025, during the federal government shutdown that temporarily disrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) payments, Walz announced $4 million in emergency bridge funding to support more than 300 food shelves and Tribal Nations across the state.

That funding, administered through the Minnesota Department of Human Services, helped sustain emergency food operations for an estimated 440,000 Minnesotans who rely on federal nutrition benefits. Over the past year, Minnesota’s general food shelves reported nearly 9 million visits, reflecting a sharp increase in demand and highlighting the urgency of expanding food access.

Addressing Veteran-Specific Food Insecurity

While the state has long supported food access programs, Walz’s new executive order targets the unique barriers faced by veterans—including those with disabilities, fixed incomes, or limited access to transportation.

In recent years, localized efforts such as the Minneapolis VA Medical Center’s monthly “pop-up” food pantry, launched in May 2024, have helped serve hundreds of veterans struggling to maintain reliable access to food. The new statewide Veteran Food Pantry Network will build upon those grassroots models, establishing a formalized, coordinated system designed to ensure consistency, accessibility, and sustainability.

The order tasks MDVA with developing clear operational standards for food sourcing, storage, and distribution while avoiding duplication of existing services. It also grants the department flexibility to enter into agreements with nonprofits, local governments, and community partners to expand reach and efficiency.

Next Steps

The executive order does not allocate new funding but empowers MDVA to use existing resources “to the maximum extent allowed by law” to implement the network. Officials are expected to identify partner organizations, regional distribution hubs, and logistics frameworks in the coming months.

State leaders and veterans’ advocates have praised the order as a strategic, actionable step toward addressing the growing issue of veteran hunger in Minnesota, particularly during a time of national economic uncertainty.

Governor Walz’s initiative positions Minnesota among the first states in the nation to create a dedicated, statewide food support network for veterans, reinforcing his administration’s broader focus on equity, resilience, and post-service well-being for those who have served.

MinneapoliMedia