Federal workers turn to food banks as government shutdown drags on

Government Shutdown Impact - The US government shutdown has entered its fourth week, causing hardship for federal employees [1] - Approximately 2 million federal employees are missing their first full paycheck [1] - Food banks are opening distribution centers specifically for government workers [1] - One distribution center expects to serve around 300 people [2] Food Assistance Programs - SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to 42 million Americans, are set to run out on November 1st [3] - The potential disruption of SNAP benefits is putting pressure on lawmakers [3] - Senators are trying to find ways to fund SNAP and pay federal workers [4] Economic Consequences - The shutdown's impact is now being felt in Washington DC and across the country [5] - Federal employees are dipping into savings and seeking part-time work [4] - The shutdown is creating nonlinear impacts on paychecks, SNAP, and potentially healthcare premiums [5]